Fourier transform infrared study of the gel form of isotactic polystyrene

Infrared spectra of isotactic polystyrene gel films are observed to be significantly different from those of amorphous and crystalline polymer, indicating that the gel form is in a different conformation than the usual 3₁ helical crystal structure. Computer-assisted subtraction indicates that approximately 35% of the chains participate in the gel component, effectively ruling out structural defects as the origin of the ordered gel component.