A Wafer of Polyethylene: Ultrathin polyethylene films made of nanocrystals

User rating: 4.3 / 5 after 4 vote(s)

Caught on film: Ultrathin (50 nm) films of crystalline polyethylene were prepared at room temperature from prefabricated polymer nanocrystals functioning as building blocks. The very small particle size in combination with the phenomenon that the amo ...
Caught on film: Ultrathin (50 nm) films of crystalline polyethylene were prepared at room temperature from prefabricated polymer nanocrystals functioning as building blocks. The very small particle size, in combination with the phenomenon that the amorphous regions are located at the surface exclusively in polymer single crystals, results in efficient interaction between particles in the films. Credit: (C) Wiley-VCH 2008

Layers of plastic, much thinner than a strand of hair—this type of ultrathin polymer film is of great interest to scientists and engineers. Applications include protective coatings, for example. A research team led by Stefan Mecking at the University of Konstanz has now developed a new method to produce wafer-thin layers. As reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie, the scientists made their films from individual prefabricated nanocrystal building blocks.


Full story »
All News summaries from General Science news
All News summaries for June 02, 2008
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive