Annealing behavior of solution grown polyethylene single crystals

The morphology evolution of solution grown polyethylene single crystals has been studied upon annealing below their melting temperature by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM investigations have been performed ex situ, which means AFM investigations at room temperature after the annealing treatment, and in situ at real temperature. Beside the well-known Swiss-cheese and picture frame appearance a novel morphological feature has been observed: the formation of saw-tooth-like patterns at the edges of the crystals, which become more and more pronounced with increasing annealing temperature. Controlled dissolution experiments have resulted in similar saw-tooth-like edge patterns of the single crystals, which indicate that the initial organization of the crystals influences the reorganization. This reorganization behavior upon annealing can be related to the presence of nano-sized fold defects, which have been monitored using the technique of n-alkane surface decoration.