SINGLE-MOLECULE SINGLE-CRYSTALS OF ISOTACTIC POLYSTYRENE

Single-molecule single crystals were grown from amorphous droplets of fractionated isotactic polystyrene. The crystals were analyzed by elec tron microscopy and electron diffraction. The molecular mass distribut ion could be matched with a statistical analysis of single-molecule pa rticles (amorphous and crystals). Proof was brought that single molecu les of isotactic polystyrene do not reach equilibrium dimensions on cr ystallization, rather assume the lamellar morphology with chain-folded macroconformation, also known from crystallization of polymolecular c rystals. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.