The Molecular Structure and Arrangement in Stretched Natural Rubber

Thin films of stretched rubber yield electron diffraction patterns which exhibit, in addition to the Laue spots, a pattern of diffuse zones. Finch and Wilman (1937) obtained similar composite patterns from various organic crystals and, with Charlesby (1939), they showed that in the case of anthracene the diffuse zone pattern owed its origin to molecules in the crystal, but was similar to that which would be obtained by scattering from independent molecules oriented as in the crystal. The present study has demonstrated that this is also true in the case of rubber, and an appreciation of the significance of the diffuse-zone pattern has led to an advance in our knowledge of the structure of natural rubber.