On the formation of lamellae during annealing of extended chain crystals of radiation-polymerized trioxane

Abstract The structure changes of radiation-polymerized trioxane taking place during annealing have been studied by means of electron microscopy, X-ray small- and wide-angle scattering, and differential thermal analysis. The original fibrillar crystals, supposedly consisting of extended chains, change into lamellar crystals due to annealing at temperatures between 150° and 190°C. Lamella formation can be connected with the appearance of a long period of about 200A which is not observed in the unannealed sample. During annealing within the same temperature range the X-ray reflections due to the twin structure of the original polytrioxane disappear, whereas the orientation of the fraction wit…