Polymer morphology: A guide to macromolecular self-organization

The study of polymer morphology continues to be the principal means of acquiring knowledge and understanding of macromolecular self-organization. Long-standing problems of the nature of melt-crystallized lamellae and spherulitic growth have been resolved, bringing understanding of how characteristic properties such as a broad melting range and spatially-varying mechanical response are inherent in spherulitic morphologies. This reflects the distinctive features of the crystallization of long molecules, i.e. that they impede each other and, for faster growth, form rough basal surfaces. Knowledge of morphology is an essential accompaniment to the informed development of advanced polymeric materials and a full understanding of their structure/property relations.