A simple lattice model for the basal interface in compressible semi-crystalline polymers

The basal interfacial regions of the laminar crystalline structures growing at moderate under-coolings in melt-crystallizing polymers, are modeled by accommodating a linear chain in a cubic lattice. The model extends previous treatments in that a finite compressibility is also accounted for. It is f ound that, due to the presence of density gradients: (a) compressibility is responsible of order 10% contributions to the overall basal surface tensio n, sigma (e), in realistic conditions, and (b) the corresponding tight fold ing energies required to match the observed values of a, decrease by order 30%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.