On the orientation-induced crystallization of polymers

Abstract

In order to understand orientation-induced crystallization of polymers, we introduced an intermolecular interaction between polymer chains based on quantum mechanics. We therefore considered a pair of perfectly extended chains where the intermolecular interaction is assumed to be based on the hydrogen interaction with a single chain. When two protons of each extended chain become closer together under tension, the attractive force between the extended chains is caused by the interaction between hydrogen atoms surrounding the main chains based on the hydrogen molecule ion H2+. The energy is split into the ground and excited states, and the spontaneous process leading to the ground state is the origin for orientation-induced crystallization.