Nanoscale morphology of melt crystallized polyethylene/graphite (HOPG) interphase

High density polyethylene (PE) was crystallised from the melt on freshly cl eaved surface of highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) or mica. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies of structure of the polymer surface adjacent to the graphite or mica were performed after peeling of from the substrate . Significant differences of crystalline structure on the interface were fo und between PE crystallised on graphite and mica. The surface of polyethyle ne crystallised on graphite shows large areas with regularly arranged recta ngular structures. These objects (ca 20-80 nm big) probably represent the n ucleation centres of the lamellar growth. The surface of polyethylene cryst allised at mica surface shows some dot-like structures showing no particula r arrangement.