Insights into strain-induced solid mesophases in melt-spun polymer fibers

This article provides an overview of strain-induced solid mesophases in polymer fibers, melt-spun from amorphous (polycarbonate, cyclo-olefin polymer, copolyamide, polyethylene terephthalate glycol) and semi-crystalline materials (polyethylene terephthalate, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate). The discussed are made stretched, conformationally disordered macromolecules that highly oriented along the fiber axis, reveal variations their lateral spacing. Fitting algorithms for respective wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD) patterns put forward, directly tested on fibers melt-drawn as well polymers. Equatorial, meridional, off-axis azimuthal profiles extracted WAXD simultaneously fitted. Best fit parameters contain detailed structural information, lead to simulated 2D patterns, which turn can be used quantify phases present fibers. We postulate mesophases, broad equatorial reflections found all types drawn