The crystal structure of poly- p-phenylene sulphide

Abstract

The structure of crystalline poly- p-phenylene sulphide ▪ has been determined through the application of X-ray diffraction methods. The structure appears to be similar to that of poly- p-phenylene oxide. The orthorhombic unit cell ( a = 8 · 67 A ̊ , b = 5 · 61 A ̊ and c ( fibre axis) = 10 · 26 A ̊ ) contains four monomeric units. The space group is Pbcn D 2 h 14. Two molecular chains pass through the unit cell-one through the centre and the other through a corner. The sulphur atoms of a molecular chain are arranged in a zig-zag manner in the (100) plane. The planes of the phenylene groups are alternately at +45° and −45° to the (100) plane. The sulphur bond angle is about 110°, just as in aliphatic sulphide polymers.