Further electron microscope observations on polyethylene I. Granule structure of the melt as an artifact

There are still two opinions on the fine structure of polymer melts and glasses: (a) that the structure is similarly homogeneous to that in lower molecular weight materials and (b) that the structure shows larger short-range order regions (2–20 nm), which consist of bundeled segments of the chain molecules. Whereas opinion a relies more on indirect methods of investigation, opinion b is based mainly on fine granular structures which become visible in electron microscope investigations of surfaces of glassy solidified polymers. Such a fine structure can now be observed directly in a polyethylene melt. However, the structure is exposed as an artifact, so opinion a is supported.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. R. Bonart. Presented at the colloquium on 18.1.1985 in Regensburg on the occasion of his 60th birthday.Presented at the 32nd Meeting of the Colloid Society and Berlin Polymer Conference 1985, 2.–4.10.1985 in Berlin.