Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
X-ray diffraction and computer molecular modeling Methods are being used toinvestigate the ordering of random sequence copolyesters when cooled for thenematic Melt. Data will be presented for the copolymers prepared from p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) and 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoicacid. The non-periodic diffraction patterns arising from the random monomersequences are also indicative of the presence of limited three dimensionalorder. For both polymer systems, we can generate the qualitative feature ofthe x-ray data using models in which short non-identical segments of 10–12Monomers on adjacent chains are approximately in register at their center.Molecular Mechanics calculations show that mese non-identical sequences canbe packed on the observed hexagonal lattice with only small energydifferences when compared to analogous homopolymer structures. Data willalso be presented showing how x-ray diffraction can be used to followtransesterification of copoly (HBA/HNA) in the nematic MelL