Polytetrafluoroethylene crystal morphologies

Melillo, L. and Wunderlich, B. Extended chain crystals VIII. Morphology of polytetrafluoroethylene. Kolloid Z. Z. Polymere 250, 417 (1972)... 

Melillio L, Wunderlich B (1972) Morphology of polytetrafluoroethylene extended chain crystals VIII. Kolloid Z Z Polym 250 417... 

The third design feature is the polymer microstructure. Morphology of polymer can influence wear resistance of polymers. For example, in a semicrystalline polymer, both amorphous and crystalline phases coexist. The amorphous phase has been shown by Tanaka (8) to be weaker than the crystalline phase, thus the former wears faster than the latter. In addition to the difference in phases, the size of the spherulites and the molecular profile can also influence the wear rates. Thus, a control of the morphology through crystallization can improve the wear resistance of a polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene (11). 

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