Self-organization of interlaced network lamellar crystals of trans-1,4-polybutadiene (TPBD) on an amorphous surface

A novel morphology of TPBD crystals consisting of a three-dimensional inter laced network was obtained by casting the self-seeded 0.1% benzene solution onto carbon-boated mica. Both the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) a nd electron diffraction (ED) analyses showed that the network was composed of well-developed lamellae. It is imagined this interesting morphology is t he results of asymmetrical growth of the original TPBD lamellae on the amor phous interface, and that their preferred orientation changed when they enc ountered each other.