Structural phase transitions of syndiotactic polystyrene

Syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) exhibits four crystal modifications (α, β, γ, and δ), along with intermediate forms with different molecular conformations, as well as different chain-packing structures. The extensive literature on the crystal structures exhibited by sPS is reviewed herein, including, the mechanisms of phenomena such as solvent-induced crystallization, thermally induced crystallization and gelation, and the phase transitions among the various crystalline forms. The latter have been studied by static and dynamic wide-angle and small-angle X-ray scattering, infrared and Raman spectra, and neutron scattering, etc., in addition to computer simulations.