How atomic force microscopy has contributed to our understanding of polymer crystallization

Over the past two decades atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become one of the most frequently used tools for studying polymer crystallization. The combination of high resolution, minimal sample preparation and the ability to image non-destructively has allowed visualisation of crystallization, melting and re-ordering processes at a lamellar and sub-lamellar scale, revealing complexities that could only previously be guessed at. Here the insights that AFM has provided into some of the main over-arching questions relating to polymer crystallization are reviewed. The emphasis is on the use of AFM to image growth in real time, and on contributions that have been made to our understanding of polymer crystallization in general, rather than to specific systems.