Crystal-amorphous polymer interface studied by neutron and x-ray scattering on labeled binary ultralong alkanes

The recently discovered stable semicrystalline phase in binary ultralong alkanes is studied by small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering. Either the shorter or the longer alkane has (CD2)11CD3 ends. It is confirmed that chains are tilted in the crystal layer and found that ca. seven end carbons of the shorter alkane are amorphous. It is also established that the longer chains protrude from the crystal at both ends and that their end groups are preferentially located in the middle of the amorphous layer, suggesting gradual dissipation of orientational order of the chains exiting the crystal.