Mesophase structure of flexible‐chain polymers

Abstract

Abstract A structure of polyethylene (PE) and poly[bis(2, 2,2‐trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene] (PPh) has been studied by means of the X‐ray diffraction technique, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The polymers under investigation are examples of the organic and inorganic mesophase flexible‐chain polymers not containing the mesogenic groups. When heated above the melting point both polymers form the condis crystal mesophase state which is stable in a wide temperature range. The PE mesophase reveals the pseudohexagonal structure, while the structure of mesophase PPh has some peculiarities arising from the sharp increase in the chain stiffness within a certain temperature range. The PPh mesophase structure is characterized by the perfect one‐dimensional long‐range order of the monomolecular layers and by the short‐range order only along the two other directions within the layer. This structure may be due to the difference between the interactions of the inorganic backbones and regularly alternating side trifluoro‐ethoxy groups.