Crystalline modifications of cationically polymerized poly(3‐methyl butene‐1)

The low temperature cationic polymerization of 3‐methyl butene‐1 was studied. Two crystalline polymer modifications (α und β) were characterized by their X‐ray diffraction patterns. The “d” spacings of the α and β forms are (in Å): 7.8, 5.4, 4.6, 2.8, 2.4, and 2.1; and 9.0, 5.4, 4.8, 3.6, 2.8, and 2.1, respectively. The α modification was oriented and the repeat distance in the “c” direction is 7.8 Å. This indicates 2 structural units in the repeat unit. The α modification is more stable than the β form e.g. , when β specimens were reprecipitated from solutions the α form was obtained.