  The formation of chain-folded structures from the melt is observed in
molecular dynamics simulations resembling the lamellae of polymer crystals.
Crystallization and subsequent melting temperatures are related linearly to the
inverse lamellar thickness. Analysis of the single chain conformations in the
crystal shows that most chains reenter the same lamella by tight backfolds.
Simulations are performed with a mesoscopic bead-spring model including a
specific angle bending potential. They demonstrate that chain stiffness alone,
without an attractive inter-particle potential, is a sufficient driving force
for the formation of chain-folded lamellae.
