Heats and entropies of fusion of linear aliphatic polyesters. II. Molecular origins

The conformational contribution to the entropy of fusion was calculated for poly(ethylene adipate), poly(ethylene suberate), and poly(ethylene sebacate) from consideration of rotational potentials and steric interactions in model systems. An enumeration scheme similar to that applied to polyethylene was used. Comparison of the observed and calculated conformational entropies indicated the importance of a high‐energy chain twist in the crystalline polyesters in reducing their measured conformational entropies. The rigidity of the polyester chains in the melt is discussed in comparison to polyethylene. The contribution of the polar ester groups to the heats of fusion of the polyesters is evaluated semiempirically.