Showing papers in "Journal of Polymer Science Part A-2: Polymer Physics in 1972"

Thermal behavior of annealed organic glasses

Abstract: The influence of annealing processes on the thermal behavior of organic glasses in the glass-transition interval has been investigated and analyzed quantitatively. In detailed annealing studies of atactic polystyrene and Aroclor 5460, the absorption of thermal energy superposed on the increase in the specific heat at the glass transition, observed with suitably chosen heating rates, was followed by the differential thermal method. It is concluded that the absorption of thermal energy observed under these conditions parallels the extent of molecular relaxation that has taken place during the annealing period. It is not necessary to postulate a first-order process to account for the energy absorption. Moreover, such a postulate leads to severe conceptual difficulties regarding the development of crystallinity in crystallizable materials. The areas and the shapes of the endotherms are considered in terms of the original physical properties of the quenched glasses and the anticipated equilibrium properties. Relationships between the extent of energy absorption and time-dependent processes such as volume relaxation are discussed.

Viscoelastic properties and flow of narrow distribution polybutadienes and polyisoprenes

Abstract: The dynamic shear modulus and the flow rate through capillaries under constant pressure and under constant velocity of the piston, have been measured for polybutadienes and polyisoprenes of narrow molecular weight distribution with molecular weights ranging, respectively, from 3.8 × 104 to 5.8 × 105 and from 1.06 × 105 to 6.02 × 105. The phenomena of the discontinuous increase of volume flow rate and self-oscillatory flow regime at critical rates of deformation have been considered in detail. It is proposed that these phenomena are due to the induced transition of the polymer from the fluid to the high-elastic state at higher deformation rates. As a result, an inference has been made that polybutadienes and polyisoprenes with a narrow molecular weight distribution in the high-elastic state, behave in certain respects as crosslinked polymers incapable of displaying fluidity. The quantitative relationships among the viscoelastic characteristics measured under dynamic regimes, the parameters determining the critical flow regimes, and the molecular weights of polybutadienes and polyisoprenes have been worked out.

Mechanism of submicrocrack generation in stressed polymers

Abstract: Submicrocracks, free radicals, and endgroups of scissioned molecules formed in polyethylene, polypropylene, and polycaprolactam under uniaxial tension have been investigated. Measurements were carried out by small-angle x-ray scattering, electron paramagnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy. The concentration of submicrocracks is almost the same as that of free radicals but is smaller than the concentration of scissioned macromolecules by approximately three orders of magnitude. The number of scissions per crack proved to be close to the number of macromolecules passing through the cross section of a submicrocrack calculated on the assumption of close packing. It is concluded that submicrocracks in stressed polymers are formed as a result of chain reactions of macromolecular decomposition initiated by the active end primary free radicals.

Studies on crystalline forms of nylon 6. II. Crystallization from the melt

Abstract: The relative amounts of the a and the y crystalline forms of nylon 6 obtained from the melt under different crystallization conditions have been studied by an x-ray diffraction procedure by comparison with a calibration curve obtained from the diffraction of standard samples. The weight fraction of the y form decreases with increasing crystallization temperature and that of the a form increases. Growth of the y form is predominant in crystallization at 100°C and of the a form at 200°C. The amount of the a form tends to increase on annealing at 2OOOC for specimens crystallized at any temperature.

Multiple endotherm melting behavior in relation to polymer morphology

Abstract: The two endotherms found during DSC analysis of annealed or drawn poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, are discussed in greater. detail. Earlier workers proposed that the endotherms were the result of separate morphologies, i.e., extended-chain and folded-chain crystals, but more recently Roberts and others have presented data on the effect of DSC heating rate on annealed PET endotherm areas which indicate that the higher temperature endotherm is the result of recrystallization in the DSC. The present work explains the reasons for recrystallization, and presents data showing that samples cooled at various rates from the melt also exhibit recrystallization in the DSC, in much the same manner as samples annealed for different lengths of time. Further, by prolonged annealing before analysis, part of the recrystallization exotherm can be observed in the DSC scan. Drawn nylon 66 also exhibits recrystallization in the DSC, in a manner similar to annealed or slowly crystallized PET. The amount of material that recrystallizes is determined by the time and supercooling available between first melting and the ultimate recrystallization temperature, i.e., a temperature at which there is too little time and temperature driving force for further recrystallization to occur. Infrared absorption data show an increase in “regular” fold content during prolonged annealing of PET, while dynamic mechanical data show a marked decrease in a dispersion that is likely associated with the looser fold crystal morphologies. Annealed PET does superheat in the DSC, leaving unanswered the question as to whether any partially extended material is present along with the regular-fold material. For cold-drawn PET, the infrared data indicate disappearance of regular folds and the dynamic mechanical data indicate disappearance of the looser folds. Cold-drawn PET also superheats. These data indicate a likelihood of at least partially extended morphologies in cold-drawn PET; these observations do not apply to PET drawn at high temperatures or to polyethylene.

Characterization of the structure and organization of β‐form crystals in type III and type IV isotactic polypropylene spherulites

Abstract: Anisotropic growth of β-form crystals of isotactic polypropylene in type III and type IV spherulites has made possible microanalysis of the unit cell structure, optical properties, and crystal arrangement within the spherulites. Micro x-ray studies of the type III and type IV spherulites show that interspherulitic β-form crystals have a hexagonal unit cell with dimensions; a = 19.08 A and c = 6.49 A. The intrinsic refractive indices of these β-form crystals are 1.506 along the a axis and 1.536 along the c axis. The organization of the crystals within the spherulites and the optical properties of the spherulites are also quantitatively evaluated. Both the type III and type IV spherulites have the a axis of the crystal radial while the crystals rotate randomly around the type III spherulite radii and periodically around the type IV spherulite radii. The radial refractive index for both the type III and type IV spherulites has the same value of 1.496. The tangential refractive index of the type III spherulite has a constant value of 1.509; it varies periodically between a minimum of 1.496 and a maximum of 1.519 in the type IV spherulite. Microtechniques such as micro x-ray diffraction, interference microscopy, birefringence, and optical microscopy were required for acquisition of the data.

Melting behavior of isotactic polystyrene

Abstract: The melting behavior of isotactic polystyrene, crystallized from the melt and from dilute solutions in trans-decalin, has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and solubility measurements. The melting curves show 1, 2, or 3 melting endotherms. At large supercooling, crystallization from the melt produces a small melting endotherm just above the crystallization temperature Tc. This peak originates from secondary crystallization of melt trapped within the spherulites. The next melting endotherm is related to the normal primary crystallization process. Its peak temperature increases linearly with Tc, yielding an extrapolated value for the equilibrium melting temperature Tc° of 242 ± 1°C as found before. By self-seeding, crystallization from the melt could be performed at much higher temperature to obtain melting temperatures as high as 243°C, giving rise to doubt about the value of Tc° found by extrapolation. For normal values of Tc and heating rate, an extra endotherm appears on the melting curve. Its peak temperature is the same for both melt-crystallized and solution-crystallized samples, and independent of Tc, but rises with decreasing heating rate. From the effects of heating rate and partial scanning on the ratio of peak areas and of previous heat treatment on dissolution temperature, it is concluded that this peak arises from the second one by continuous melting and recrystallization during the scan.

Thermally induced phase separation of polystyrene‐poly(vinyl methyl ether) mixtures

Abstract: Past differential scanning calorimetry and dielectric relaxation measurements have established that polystyrene (PS)-poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) mixtures exhibit a degree of compatibility when cast from toluene, whereas they are incompatible when cast from chloroform or trichloroethylene. The present study reports that toluene-cast mixtures can be phase-separated by thermal treatment at temperatures exceeding 125°C. This is true for samples containing 20–80 wt-% PS. The temperature of phase separation varies with heating rate; isothermal heating times needed to cause phase separation increase rapidly as the temperature approaches 125°C. Reversibility of the phase separation process depends upon such factors as cooling rate, annealing time, treatment temperature, and thermal history. By annealing and/or slow cooling, all thermally phase-separated mixtures have been brought back to their original state of compatibility. That is, there is no evidence for true irreversiblity of phase separation in thermally treated samples. Quench-cooled samples remain phase-separated indefinitely at room temperature, but this is attributed to rapid cooling below the glass transition of the PS. Chloroform-cast and trichloroethylene-cast mixtures have not been brought to a compatible state by thermal treatment, even after lengthy annealing and slow cooling steps.

Studies of the morphology of emulsion‐grade polytetrafluoroethylene

Abstract: Two types of emulsion-grade polytetrafluoroethylene particles have been studied. We refer to these as ribbons and rods. The ribbons consist of very thin ribbons or lamellae folded upon themselves a number of times. In typical emulsion-grade material prepared at Allied Chemical, the unraveled ribbon measures about 3.25 μ in length, 0.25 μ in width, and 60A in thickness. The folded ribbons, which form the particles, are about 0.5 μ long and 0.25 μ wide. Electron diffraction shows that the ribbons are single crystals with the chain axis parallel to the long axis of the ribbons thus forming extended chain crystals. This extended-chain packing is consistent with the observed cleavage or fibrillation of the ribbons and with the molecular weight. The rods are formed in low–yield polymerizations. Electron diffraction also shows that the rods are single crystals with the chain axis parallel to the long axis of the rods. Striations parallel to the long axis are believed to result from stacking of parallel segments. Considerable bending of the long axis of rods is observed.

Far-infrared spectra of piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride

Abstract: Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF2) is currently used to form piezoelectric films. The PVF2 molecule can exist in more than one stable conformation and it has electrically polar groups making the polymer amenable to the electrification processes involved in the formation of the piezoelectric film. The two crystalline forms of PVF2 are distinguishable by far-infrared spectroscopy. Polarized far-infrared spectra (1000-50 cm−1) of uniaxially oriented PVF2 show changes in the strong perpendicular dichroism in a number of absorptions before and after being made piezoelectric. The dichroism is attributed to a structural rearrangement from a staggered trans-gauche-trans-gauche conformation to a planar zig zag conformation. In the latter conformation the permanent dipoles are oriented approximately at right angles to the surfaces of the film and result in an electrically polarized film.

Effect of pressure on gas permeability coefficients. A new application of free volume theory

Abstract: The present work is a continuation of a general study of the effect of pressure on gas and vapor permeation through nonporous polymeric membranes. Permeability coefficients have been measured for 1,1-difluoroethylene (C2H2F2) and fluoroform (CHF3) in polyethylene at penetrant pressures up to 35 atm and at temperatures between -18 and 70°C. The permeability coefficient P for the 1,1-difluoroethylene—polyethylene system was found to increase with increasing pressure differential Δp across the membrane. Isothermal plots of log ΔP versus Δp are generally linear and can be represented by empirical relations of the form ΔP = P(0)exp{m Δp}, where P(0) and m are constants. The slope m of these isotherms decreases with increasing temperature. Plots of log P versus Δp for the fluoroform—polyethylene system are also linear, but exhibit negative slopes, i.e., P decreases with increasing Δp. An extension of Fujita's “free volume” theory of diffusion in polymers shows that the dependence of P on pressure reflects how the free volume of the polymer is affected by this pressure. An increase in the penetrant pressure may result in two opposing effects: (a) the concentration of the penetrant dissolved in the membrane is increased, thereby increasing the free volume, and (b) the hydrostatic pressure on the membrane is also increased, which causes a decrease in the free volume. If the overall effect is an increase in the free volume of the polymer, then P will also increase, and vice versa.

Effect of orientation, anisotropy, and water on the relaxation behavior of nylon 6 from 4.2 to 300°K

Abstract: The relaxation behavior of nylon 6 from 4.2 to 300°K was investigated as a function of orientation, anisotropy and moisture content by using an inverted free-oscillating torsion pendulum. Three new relaxations, δ at 53°K, ϵ below 4.2°K, and ζ at 20°K, were discovered. The characteristics of these new relaxations strongly depend on the orientation anisotropy, and concentration of adsorbed water in the specimens. The results suggest that the mechanism of the γ process is associated with the motions of both the polar and methylene units. The mechanism of the β relaxation is postulated to originate with motions of both non-hydrogen-bonded polar groups and polymer—water complex units. The behavior of the α peak is consistent with the hypothesis that it originates with the rupture of interchain hydrogen bonding due to the motions of long-chain segments in the amorphous regions. Finally, the data strongly support the proposition that two types of water, tightly bound and loosely bound, exist in nylon 6.

Fracture behavior in nylon 6 fibers

Abstract: Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques are used to determine the number of free radicals produced during deformation leading to fracture of nylon 6 fibers. A reaction rate molecular model is proposed to explain some of the deformation and bond rupture behavior leading to fracture. High-strength polymer fibers are assumed to consist of a sandwich structure of disordered and ordered regions along the fiber axis. In the disordered or critical flaw regions, tie chains connecting the ordered or crystalline block regions are assumed to have a statistical distribution in length. These chains are, therefore, subjected to different stresses. The effective length distribution was determined by EPR. The probability of bond rupture was assumed to be controlled by reaction-rate theory with a stress-aided activation energy and behavior of various loadings determined by numerical techniques. The model is successfully correlated with experimental stress, strain, and bond rupture results for creep, constant rate loadings, cyclic stress, stress relaxation and step strain tests at room temperature.

Multiple melting transitions in natural rubber

Abstract: Detailed studies of the fusion of natural rubber, following isothermal crystallization, has revealed a hitherto undetected low temperature transition which depends on the crystallization temperature. This transition is shown to be a melting phenomenon which is not caused by any polymorphic structural changes. It can be attributed to the formation of less stable crystallites which develop as the transition progresses.

Quantitative structural characterization of the mechanical properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract: Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a polycrystalline polymer, with structural order on the molecular and interlamellar levels. The character of this structure will vary with the conditions of fabrication. Certainly the mechanical properties of a sample of PET will depend on its particular structural arrangement.

Crazing of polystyrene containing two rubber balls: A model for ABS plastics

Abstract: In order to study the crazing behavior in rubber-toughened glassy polymers, polystyrene samples containing two rubber balls of the same diameter with varying separations have been prepared. They were subjected to simple tension, and their crazing behavior was observed. When the two balls are close together, the craze-initiation stress is considerably lower than that of single-ball samples. With increase in the distance between the two balls the craze-initiation stress increases at first almost linearly and levels off when l/d reaches about 1.45, where l and d are the center-to-center distance and the diameter of the balls, respectively. When l is sufficiently small, the crazes are seen to develop extensively at the inner surfaces of the balls and finally bridge with each other. The crazes bridged between the balls expand largely in the plane perpendicular to the applied load.

Crystallization kinetics of isotactic polystyrene from isotactic-atactic polystyrene blends

Abstract: In an attempt to facilitate a better understanding of the role of noncrystallizable components on the crystallization kinetics, spherulitic growth rates as well as the morphology and melting behavior of isotactic polystyrene in blends with various molecular weight atactic polystyrenes (900 to 1,800,000) over a wide range of concentrations have been studied. The growth rates are uniformly depressed with increasing amounts of atactic diluent. In addition, they are dependent on the molecular weight of the added polystyrene, generally decreasing in the molecular weight ranges between 4800 and 19,800 and between 51,000 and 1,800,000. However, between these two ranges, anomalous growth rates showing a sudden increase are observed, which may be explained by an increase in the entrapment of the noncrystallizable diluent. An explanation based on morphological observations, which showed an increase in coarseness of the spherulites with increasing molecular weight of the added atactic polystyrene, is offered.

Ultimate tensile properties of elastomers. VII. Effect of crosslink density on time–temperature dependence

Abstract: Data on tensile strength and elongation at break for a series of Viton A-HV vulcanizates are discussed. The data were obtained at various extension rates at temperatures from −5 to 230°C (25 ≲ T — Tg ≲ 260°C) on seven vulcanizates having crosslink densities ve (estimated from C1 in the Mooney-Rivlin equation) from 0.46 × 10−5 to 24.4 × 10−5 mole/cm3. At an extension rate of 1 min−1, an increase in ve affects the tensile strength σb (based on the undeformed cross-sectional area) and the true tensile strength σbσb (based on the cross-sectional area of a deformed specimen) as follows: σb is essentially constant at a low temperature; it passes through a decided maximum at intermediate temperatures; and it increases to a plateau at elevated temperatures. In contrast, λbσb decreases markedly at all temperatures, an exception being the most lightly crosslinked vulcanizate(s). Application of time—temperature superposition to the ultimate-property data gave log aT; its temperature dependence is that typical of nonpolar rubbery polymers. Data on the vulcanizates were compared in corresponding temperature states by plotting log 273σb/T, log 273λbσb/T, and (λb — 1)/(λb — 1)max against logtb/(tb)max, where tb is the temperature-reduced time to break and (tb)max is the value at which the ultimate extension ratio λb attains its maximum, (λb)max. Except for the most lightly crosslink vulcanizate, the comparison shows that 273λbσb/T and (λb — 1)/(λb — 1)max are substantially independent of (or only weakly dependent on) crosslink density, that 273λb/T increases with ve, and that 273λb/T ∝ ve0.6 and λb ∝ ve−0.4 at a large value of tb/(tb)max.

Structure analysis of chain‐folded lamellar polyamide crystals from X‐ray diffraction

Abstract: Folded-chain crystals of certain polyamides present some novel diffraction effects due to the small number of repeat units within the lamellar thickness. X-ray diffraction evidence is available in the complete range from low to wide angles. This information is interpreted in terms of the structure factor of an individual lamella together with the lattice factor appropriate for the stacking of lamellae. When due account is taken of the lattice factor, whose effect can be detected even at large angles, three features of the lamellar structure can be deduced. First, the evidence is in favor of the straight-chain stems traversing almost the total thickness of each lamella, implying sharp folds at the lamellar surfaces. Some consequences of this result on the interpretation of data obtained from annealed mats are mentioned. Second, the detailed determination of the stem structure demands that the majority of the folds in nylon 66 lie in the acid group. Third, there are regions of depleted electron density at the lamellar surfaces, though features of the crystal structure are still retained. This indicates the presence of some folds deeper in the crystal than the majority.

Domain structure and bulk properties of solvent‐cast films of A–B–A block copolymers of styrene‐isoprene‐styrene

Abstract: Domain structures of solvent-cast films of A–B–A block copolymers of styrene-isoprene-styrene were studied by electron microscopy by use of the OsO4 fixation technique. The effects of varying proportions of the two components and the casting solvent upon the domain structures were examined. It is concluded that the domain formation mechanism can be discussed like that of A–B block copolymers irrespective of sequence arrangements, as Matsuo et al. suggested, by treating A–B–A or B–A–B block copolymers as A–(1/2)B or B–(1/2)A block copolymers. The five types of fundamental domain structures—spherical domains of component A in a matrix of component B, rodlike domains of A in a matrix of B, alternating lamellae of the two components, rodlike domains of B in a matrix of A, and spherical domains of B in a matrix of A—are achieved mainly by the change of the fractional composition of the two components for a given solvent. One of the most significant features of the A–B–A block copolymers in contrast to the A–B block copolymers, i.e., that A–B–A chains can interconnect two A domains, was explored by investigating (1) the swelling behavior in a solvent that is a good one for isoprene but a nonsolvent for styrene and (2) mechanical behavior above the glass transition temperature of the styrene segments.