The fine structure of fibers and crystalline polymers. I. Fringed fibril structure

The inadequacy of the fringed micelle concept of the structure of crystalline polymers has led to the suggestion of a fringed fibril structure. Single crystal, spherulitic forms of bulk polymer, and oriented fibres are considered, and a modified fringed fibril structure, which will account for long periodicities, is proposed. The fringed micelle structure is viewed as a limiting case of fringed fibril structure. The evidence for and against the fringed fibril structure is discussed. The paper concludes with a survey of structures of different types of polymer and fibers.