THE RIGIDITY OF AROMATIC CYCLOCHAIN COPOL YMERS

The dependence of the conformational rigidity of a copolymer on its co mposition is studied by computer simulation under the assumption of un hindered rotation. Random and regular block cyclochain copolymers are considered. It is shown that rigidity of a copolymer depends not only on the relative concentrations and geometry of the constituent monomer units, but also on their distribution in the chain, the rigidity of r egular block copolymers being higher the longer the blocks. The result s of calculations for random copolymers contradict those calculated ac cording to the additive scheme.