Polymorphism in nanolayered comb-like and linear precision polymers

Comb-like polymers with rigid backbones and flexible alkyl side chains are a class of functional materials which often exhibit long range ordered states wherein main and side chains form an alternating layered arrangement on length scales of 1-3 nm. Similarly, linear precision polymers synthesized by ADMET polymerization, incorporating ring-like units placed at regular intervals along a polyethylene backbone also typically show nanolayered structures^[1]. Here we present results of a comparative study using X-ray scattering and calorimetry highlighting similarities and differences in structure formation in these two material classes. Of special interest is the competition of the individual packing tendencies of rings and methylene sub-units that drive polymorphic behavior which is a commonly encountered phenomenon in such nanolayered systems. The role of substrates and interfaces on their crystallization behavior is also briefly discussed.

[1]V. Danke, G. Gupta, S. Reimann, W. Binder and M. Beiner, Eur. Polm. J. 103 (2018) 116-123