Microdiffraction experiments on single polymeric fibers by synchrotron radiation

It is shown that wide-angle X-ray scattering patterns can be obtained from single polymeric fibers with a 2 mu m synchrotron radiation beam in a few seconds per pattern. Preferred orientation was observed for an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber where orthorhombic plus monoclinic phases were found to coexist in the outer parts of the fiber. For a poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) fiber (Kevlar 49) the radial sheet model was verified, but an important texture appears to be present.