Theory of phase transitions in crystals of long-chain molecules and the application to n -paraffins

A statistical theory of crystals of long-chain molecules is developed in terms of the mean-field approximation. Simultaneous-transcendental equations describing states of the system, which has a somewhat complicated interchain potential, are derived; they are solved in a few simple cases. The rotational transition and melting of n-paraffins along with a correlation between them are explained using the results.