A review of the properties of polymer single crystals with defects within the macromolecular chain

Abstract

The morphology, thermal behavior, and degradation pattern of solution-grown single crystals of polymers with “constitutional” and “configurational” chain defects within macromolecules are examined. Neither evidence of rejection of defects from the crystalline core nor influence of the distribution of the defects in the chain on the thickness of solution-grown single crystal is observed. In contrast with Flory's theory of equilibrium crystallization of random copolymers, some constitutional and configurational chain defects must be incorporated into the crystalline lattice as reticular imperfections. Some models able to explain the manner in which chain defects can be accommodated in the crystalline core of polymer single crystals are suggested and discussed.