Structure and dynamics of rodlike polyester with long n-alkyl side chains over a wide range of temperatures by solid state C NMR

Solid state ¹³C NMR experiments on poly(p-biphenylene terephthalate) with long n-dodecyl side chains have been carried out over a wide range of temperatures, in order to elucidate conformational and dynamical behavior of the polyester in the crystalline state and thermotropic liquid crystalline state. From these experimental results, it is found that at temperatures from room temperature to 80 °C the n-alkyl side chains take both of the immobile and the mobile regions, and at temperatures above 120 °C take only the mobile region. In the immobile region the n-alkyl side chains are in the all-trans zigzag conformation and in the mobile state are undergoing fast exchange between the trans and gauche conformations. On the other hand, the terephthalate moiety of the main chain undergoes rotational motion after the melt of n-alkyl side chains as the temperature is increased.