Modulating Thermal Properties of Polymers through Crystal Engineering

Crystal engineering has exclusively focused on the development of advanced materials based small organic molecules. We now demonstrate how cocrystallization a polymer yields material with significantly enhanced thermal stability but equivalent mechanical flexibility. Isomorphous replacement one cocrystal components enables formation solid solutions melting points that can be readily fine-tuned over usefully wide temperature range. The results this study credibly extend scope crystal and from molecules to polymers.