LAMELLAR AND WHISKER SINGLE-CRYSTALS OF POLY(2,6-OXYNAPHTHOATE)

Electron diffraction from single crystal lamellae and whiskers of poly (2,6-oxynaphthoate) reveals the presence of at least 3 unit cells. The equatorial reflections in the patterns from the whiskers correspond to the dominant (phase I) hk0 diffraction pattern from the lamellae; phase I is monoclinic with 2 chemical repeats per physical repeat. The intensity distributions in the hk0 patterns of phase I and II resemble those of the same phases in poly(p-oxybenzoate). The hk0 reflections of phase III suggest a common internapthalene unit spacing, but variable lateral (and possibly axial) shifts; apparently related orthorhombic and monoclinic patterns, with variable gamma*, are observed. At elevated temperature, above the crystal-liquid crystal transition (ca. 330-degrees-C), quadrant reflections are retained; the change in the hk0 pattern from any given crystal is gradual, extending over some 40-degrees-C. Above the liquid crystal-liquid crystal transition (ca. 460-degrees-C) the pattern can be interpreted in terms of nematic or possibly smectic A packing.