Neutron scattering studies of syndiotactic polystyrene crystals

Neutron scattering experiments are reported on solution grown crystals of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) at small and large q, in order to investigate the chain conformation within the lamellar crystals. From the results in both the Guinier and the intermediate ranges, we come to the following conclusions: the chain folds in one or several sheet depending on the molecular weight, comparison between measured and calculated intensity plots give strong indication that a is the fold direction. The statistical model recently built for the spatial arrangement of stems in a sheet-like structure is successful again, and demonstrate a strong statistical preference for adjacent re-entry.