Polymerization-induced ordering and liquid-crystalline ordered melts of semicrystalline homopolymers with dynamic properties.
Melts of semicrystalline homopolymers are classically described as disordered random coils that crystallize into folded-chain lamellar nanocrystals. Here, using ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) as a model system, we show that polymerization induces hierarchical ordering that evolves into liquid-crystall...