Fringed-micelle theory

Figure 3.6. Two-dimensional representation of molecules in a crystalline polymer according to the fringed micelle theory showing ordered regions (crystallites) embedded in an amorphous matrix.

The fringed micelle theory has been less favoured recently following research on the subject of polymer single crystals. This work has led to the suggestion that polymer crystallisation takes place by single molecules folding themselves at intervals of about 10 nm to form lamellae as shown in Figure 3.3b. These lamellae appear to be the fundamental structures of crystalline polymers. 

Figure 3.6). This theory known as the fringed micelle theory or fringed crystallite theory helped to explain many properties of crystalline polymers but it was difficult to explain the formation of certain larger structures such as spherulites which could possess a diameter as large as 0.1 mm.

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