The spherulite-like structure of main chain thermotropic aromatic copolyesters

A new spherulite-like structure of main chain thermotropic aromatic copolye sters formed in solution cast specimens was observed and was studied by mea ns of polarizing microscopy, X-ray diffraction, SEM and IR spectrometry. Re sults indicate that the spherulite-like structure of main chain thermotropi c aromatic copolyesters formed from the casting solution (phenol/Cl2CH2CH2C l2) is not a real crystal but only a high oriented arrangement of the macro molecular chains as a spherulite. This resulted from the interaction betwee n the needle-like crystal of phenol and the rigid mesomorphic groups of mol ecular chain. The parallel packing of extended copolyester molecules along the needle-like crystal of phenol leads to the formation of the spherulite- like structure.