Linear poly(γ-alkyl substituted-α,L-glutamate)s, PALG-n (where n represents the number of carbon atoms of the paraffinic side chain segment) are unusual in the ranks of synthetic polymers in having the ability to exist in well defined chain conformation of extensive order such as the helix and retain such structures even in solution. The presence of two types of units - units which participate in the formation of backbone of the main chain and units from which the side chains are constructed - is the most important property of these polymers. This duality of structure of the PALG-n macromolecule results in the dual character of the ordering and properties of the system as a whole. The objective of this paper is to analyze the melting/crystallization behavior of paraffinic segments of side chains from poly(γ-hexadecyl-α,L-glutamate), PALG-16, and poly(γ-stearyl-α,L-glutamate), PALG-18, as well as the onset of the LC state in these polymers
