Structural Reasons for Restricted Backbone Motion in Poly(n-alkyl methacrylates): Degree of Polymerization, Tacticity and Side-Chain Length

The complex dynamics of poly(n‐alkyl methacrylates) is studied by advanced 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as mechanical and dielectric relaxation. Extended backbone conformations are identified as the molecular units involved in structural relaxation. From the variation in the degree of polymerization and a comparison with the presence of stereoregular sequences in the sample, the length of the extended units is determined to involve about five, at most ten monomeric units. Syndiotactic and isotactic sequences behave similarly. These findings are indicative of locally structured polymer melts.