| Abstract: | Chain-folded lamellar crystals of nylon 2 4 have been prepared from dilute solution by addition of poor solvent. Two crystal structures are observed at room temperature: a monoclinic form I, precipitated at elevated temperature, and a less-defined, orthorhombic form II, precipitated at room temperature. The unit cell parameters for both forms are similar to those reported for its isomer, nylon 3. Nylon 2 4 form II is a liquid–crystal-like or disordered phase, consisting of hydrogen-bonded sheets in poor register in the hydrogen bond direction. Form I crystals have two characteristic interchain spacings of 0.41 nm and 0.39 nm at room temperature and on heating, exhibit a structural transformation and a Brill temperature (250°C) characteristic of many other even–even nylons. Nylon 2 4 is a member of the nylon 2 Y and nylon 2N 2(N+1) families, and the form I crystals show behavior commensurate with both. We propose they contain a proportion of intersheet hydrogen bonds at room temperature, similar to that for the nylon 2 Y family, and the short dimethylene alkane segments mean that the structure consists of hydrogen-bonded a-sheets, with an amide unit in each fold, similar to that of nylon 4 6. The fold geometry and sheet structure is compared with chain-folded apβ-sheet polypeptides and nylon 3. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. 36: 2401–2412, 1998 |
