Conformational changes of poly(oxymethylene) induced by pressure and mechanical treatment

IR spectra of hexagonal poly(oxymethylene) samples prepared by various polymerization procedures have been studied. The samples were further modified by pressure and by milling in liquid nitrogen. It was found that the considerable differences observed in IR spectra in the range 900–1250 cm−1 are caused by irregularities of the G conformation of the polymer chain. The regularity of the G conformational structure increases by pressing and milling.