The thermal behaviour of low-molecular-weight poly(3-decylthiophene)

A detailed study on the thermal behaviour of low-molecular-weight poly(3-decylthiophene) (Mw = 5700 by gel permeation chromatography) was performed using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and FTIR techniques. A polymorphism for this polymer was clearly shown: namely two different crystalline phases and a mesophase, probably nematic. A structural model for a 3-dimensional phase was derived. Finally the conditions under which each phase can be obtained were determined.