Lateral order

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-006477",
  "term": "Lateral order",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The degree of structural regularity and alignment of polymer chains or segments in directions perpendicular to the main chain axis. This order describes how well neighboring chains are packed and oriented relative to each other within a crystalline or semicrystalline polymer. High lateral order is characteristic of highly crystalline polymers, contributing to their mechanical properties.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "linear polymer"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Purple Book, 1st ed., p. 46 (http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/author/metanomski.html)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/lateral-order/"
}