Summary
Atomic force microscopy studies of drawn ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tapes were conducted under water, where the operating repulsive forces and the contact area between probe and sample are smaller than in ambient conditions measurements. In this way a higher image resolution allows to identify nanofibrils with widths of 15–25nm, which are formed during stretching. Numerous linear features with separation of 5–8 nm were resolved on the surfaces of nanofibrils in a tape with draw ratio 70. Periodical contrast variations along the stretching direction with a repeat distance of ca. 25 nm-long period-were found on drawn tapes only at stronger operation forces. This finding indicates that these features are related not to the surface topography but to differences in surface hardness. From the molecular scale images it is evident that the harder parts of nanofibrils consist of crystalline domains of extended polymer chains, while no ordered features were found between the elevated image patterns.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Magonov SN, Cantow H-J (1992) J Appl Polym Sci, Appl Polym Symp 51:31
Magonov SN (1993) Appl Spectr Rev 28:1
Patil R, Kim S-J, Smith E, Reneker D, Weisenhorn AC (1990) Polym Comm 31:455
Annis BK, Schmark DW, Reffner JR, Thomas EL, Wunderlich B (1992) Macromol Chem 193:2589
Magonov S N, Bar G, Cantow H-J, Bauer H-D, Müller I, Schwoerer M (1991) Polym Bull 26:223
Magonov S N, Qvarnström K, Elings V, Cantow H-J (1991) Polym Bull 25:689
Magonov S N, Kempf S, Kimmig M, Cantow H-J (1991) Polym Bull 26:715
Snetivy D, Guillet J E, Vansco GJ (1993) Polymer 34:429
Snetivy D, Vansco G J, Rutledge GC (1992) Macromolecules 25:7037
Sheiko S, Möller M, Cantow H-J, Magonov SN (1993) Polym Bull, preceeding paper
Leung OM, Goh MC (1992) Science 255:64
Welhs TP, Nawaz Z, Jarvis SP, Pethica JB (1991) Appl Phys Lett 59:3536
Landman U, Luedke WD, Nitzan A (1989) Surf Sci Lett 10:L177
Garnaes J, Schwarz DK, Viswanathan R, Zasadzinski JAN (1992) Nature 357:54
Weisenhorn AL, Maivald P, Butt H-J, Hansma PK (1992) Phys Rev B45:11226
Hoh J H, Hansma PK (1992) Trend Cell Biol 2:208
Ohnesorge F, Binnig G (1993) Science 260:1451
Butt H-J, Seifert E, Bamberg E (1993) J Phys Chem 97:7316
Magonov SN, Sheiko SS, Deblieck RAC, Möller M (1993) Macromolecules 26:1380
Sheiko SS, Möller M, Reuvekamp EMCM, Zandbergen HW (1993) Phys Rev B48:5765
Grubb DT, Prasad K (1992) Macromolecules 25:4575
Peterlin A (1965) J Polym Sci C9:61
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wawkuschewski, A., Cantow, H.J., Magonov, S.N. et al. Scanning force microscopy of nanofibrillar structure of drawn polyethylene tapes. Polymer Bulletin 31, 699–705 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300130
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300130