This picture is taken using an atomic force microscope (AFM).  The image shows a magnified section of a film composed of more than four thousand continuous and uniform alternating layers of polyester (dark strips) and polystyrene.  The individual layers are less than 100 nanometers in thickness.  Layer-multiplying technology (layer-multiplying coextrusion) combines two or three dissimilar polymers to create these films.  Films with controlled nanolayer architecture raise the possibility of new high-performance polymeric materials.  In addition, it provides rare opportunities to understand structure-property relationships of polymer interphase and polymer interface. (Featured in ACS Heart Cut, details)