| Abstract: | Observations by transmission electron microscopy suggest that surface-controlled recrystallization of polyethylene occurs by the solid state nucleation and growth of new crystals with (110) or (11 0) planes parallel to the free surface. The nucleation site of these crystals is the free surface. The growth process involves the migration of [002] tilt boundaries suggesting that these boundaries have high mobilities. The migration process may occur by the lateral rearrangement of the macromolecules in the [002] tilt boundary. |
