Crystal Structure of Poly(trimethylene carbonate)

Abstract

Poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTrMC) is a member of poly(alkylene carbonate) represented by the chemical formula [−(CH2)mOCOO−]n. PTrMC is found to be a synthetic rubber, which is amorphous in the relaxed state and crystalline in the stretched state. PTrMC can be synthesized enzymatically and therefore can be called a biodegradable elastomer. In the present study, the crystal structure analysis of PTrMC was carried out using an imaging plate by the X-ray diffraction method. Two molecular chains pass through a unit cell with parameters a = 7.02 A, b = 5.81 A, and c(fiber axis) = 12.30 A and the space group P21cn−C2v9. The molecules assume the STST2GSTST2Ḡ conformation distorted from T5GT5Ḡ.