| Abstract
| - Ultralong alkanes crystallize into lamellae with a thickness that is an integer fraction ofthe extended chain length. On heating, they unfold or thicken to approach the equilibrium, extendedchain form. Using high-resolution in-situ wide-angle X-ray scattering, carried out at the EuropeanSynchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, it has been shown that this thickening is accompaniedby a contraction of the lattice, a contraction accompanying each thickening event between each integerfolded crystal thickness. Prior to thickening, there is an increase in disorder, as measured by the changein peak width. In extended chain alkanes with the same crystal thickness the lattice simply expandsthermally before melting.
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