MOLECULAR PACKING AT SURFACES OF ORIENTED POLYIMIDE FIBER AND FILM OBSERVED BY ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY

Molecular morphology of a surfaces of fibers and films from novel segmented polyimides with different rigidity of the backbones was studied by atomic force microscopy. It was observed that surface morphology on a molecular scale is formed by straight segments arranged in a {1-10} plane for polymide fiber and in a {010} plane for polyimide film. Z-shaped backbone segments at the fiber surfaces are arranged at definite angles with respect to the fiber axis. The parameters of unique cells, positional correlations and the arrangement of molecular segments at the interface are discussed.