On the role of connectivity in the relative stability of crystal types for model polymeric solids

We study the relative stability of two different lattice types for model polymeric solids, using a recently developed density functional theory for freely-hinged, polymeric chains of hard globular segments. The most stable crystal-lattice type appears to be determined by the mean length and the stretching stiffness of the bonds as well as by the size of the segments. We discuss the possible implications of this for the crystallization of chemically realistic polymers. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.