Single-Molecule single crystals of isotactic polystyrene

Single‐molecule single crystals were grown from amorphous droplets of fractionated isotactic polystyrene. The crystals were analyzed by electron microscopy and electron diffraction. The molecular mass distribution could be matched with a statistical analysis of single‐molecule particles (amorphous and crystals). Proof was brought that single molecules of isotactic polystyrene do not reach equilibrium dimensions on crystallization, rather assume the lamellar morphology with chain‐folded macroconformation, also known from crystallization of polymolecular crystals. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America. US Government contract No. DE‐AC05‐840R‐21400.