Polymers zigzag pattern, molecule

FIGURE 2.40 Zigzag pattern of a chain polymer molecule. 

The structure of truly crystalline regions of a polymer may be determined from wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns. In this way the unit cell dimensions and molecular configurations have been obtained for all the common polymers. In general, the molecules of the crystalline phase adopt an extended zigzag or helical conformation and lie parallel to each other. 

---