Showing papers in "Journal of Polymer Science Part B in 1976"

Effect of partially immobilizing sorption on permeability and the diffusion time lag

Abstract: The gas permeability and diffusion time lag may exhibit varying degrees of pressure dependence for glassy polymers. The sorption isotherm appears to consist of contributions from both Langmuir and Henry's law terms in such systems. This “dual sorption” theory advanced in the literature pictures gas held by the Langmuir mode as being completely immobilized. In the present paper, this model is extended to accommodate different degrees of partial immobilization of gas sorbed by this mode using two different formulations. One uses a transport expression based on concentration gradients while the other is based on chemical potential gradients. The predictions are that: (1) total immobilization results in a constant permeability with a time lag which strongly decreases with pressure; (2) no immobilization results in a constant time lag with a permeability which decreases strongly with pressure; and (3) incomplete immobilization results in both the permeability and time lag decreasing with pressure but neither as strongly as in the other limiting cases. The differences which may arise by the two formulations of the model are discussed.

Small-angle x-ray and light scattering studies of the morphology of blends of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) with poly(vinyl chloride)†

Abstract: Solvent-cast films of blends of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were examined by low-angle x-ray scattering and by small-angle light scattering. X-ray scattering from crystalline compositions were analyzed using the Tsvankin–Buchanan technique and led to values of the repeat period of the lamellar structure and the thickness of the crystalline and amorphous layers. With increasing content of PVC, the amorphous layer thickness increased sufficiently to accommodate the PVC, leading to values of the linear crystallinity consistent with macroscopic measurements by density and DSC techniques up to about 50% PVC by weight. Above this concentration, the lamellar structure no longer appeared to be volume filling. At high concentration of PCL, the polymer consisted of volume-filling spherulites containing the lamellar substructure. Spherulite sizes were measured by light scattering and absolute light scattering intensities were consistent with calculations based upon the degree of crystallinity and anisotropy of the spherulites. Compositions containing more than 60% PVC were amorphous. Low-angle x-ray scattering was interpreted in terms of the Debye–Bueche theory which leads to values for a correlation distance lc and the mean-square electron density fluctuation 〈η2〉 (which was also obtained from the invariant). By the method of Porod, the correlation distances were resolved into persistence lengths within the two phases, which were determined as a function of composition. The fluctuation 〈η2〉 was analyzed in terms of a two-phase model to show that its value was somewhat larger than would be obtained if the phases were composed of the pure components. It was not possible to uniquely determine their compositions. The data were consistent with the existence of a transition zone of the order of 30 A thick between phases.

The drawing behavior of linear polyethylene. I. Rate of drawing as a function of polymer molecular weight and initial thermal treatment

Abstract: The drawing behavior of a series of linear polyethylene homopolymers with weight-average molecular weight (Mw) ranging from 67,800 to ∼3,500,000 and variable distribution (Mw/Mn = 5.1−20.9) has been studied. Sheets were prepared by two distinct routes: either by quenching the molten polymer into cold water or by slow cooling below the crystallization temperature (∼120°C) followed by quenching into cold water. When the samples (2 cm long) were drawn in air at 75°C using a crosshead speed of 10 cm/min it was found that for low Mw polymers the initial thermal treatment has a dramatic effect on the rate at which the local deformation proceeds in the necked region. At high Mw such effects are negligible. An important result was that comparatively high draw ratios (λ > 17) and correspondingly high Young's moduli could be obtained for a polymer with Mw as high as 312,000. It is shown how some of the structural features of the initial materials (mainly studied by optical microscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering and low-frequency laser Raman spectroscopy) can be interpreted in terms of the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the polymers. Although crystallization and morphology can be important at low Mw, it suggested that the concept of a molecular network which embraces both crystalline and noncrystalline material is more helpful in understanding the drawing behavior over the whole range of molecular weights.

A dielectric study of molecular relaxation in oxidized and chlorinated polyethylenes

Abstract: A study was made of the dielectric relaxation in polyethylenes rendered dielectrically active through oxidation (0.5–1.7 carbonyls/1000 CH2) and chlorination (14–22 Cl/1000 CH2). Both linear and branched polymers were studied. All of the relaxations between the melt and −196° were studied in the frequency range 10 Hz to 10kHz (100 kHz in the chlorinated samples). In the linear samples a wide range of crystallinities was studied (55% in quenched specimens to 95% in extended-chain specimens obtained by crystallization at 5 kbar). As is consistent with its being a crystalline process, the α peak was found to discontinously disappear on melting of the samples and reappear on recrystallizing on cooling. The disappearance of the smaller crystals before the larger ones appeared to be evident in the isothermal loss versus frequency curves. The relaxation strength of the α process increases with crystallinity. The measured relaxation strength is less than that expected on the basis of direct proportionality to the crystalline fraction with full contribution of all dipoles in the crystalline material. However, the intensity is not sufficiently low for the process to be interpreted in terms of reorientation of localized conformational defects in the crystal. The variation of intensity with crystallinity is best interpreted in terms of full participation of crystalline dipoles but with selective partitioning of both carbonyls and chlorines favoring the amorphous domains. A strong correlation of the α loss peak location (Tmax at constant frequency or log fmax at constant T) with crystallinity for both carbonyl and chlorine containing polymers was found. This variation is interpreted in terms of chain rotations in the crystal where the activation free energy depends on crystal thickness. The dependence of log fmax and Tmax on lamellar thickness as well as a comparison with the loss peaks of ketones dissolved in parafins indicates that the chain rotation is not rigid and is accompanied by twisting as the rotation propagates through the crystal. In agreement with previous studies the β process is found to be strong only in the branched polymers but can be detected in the chlorinated linear polymer. The β process was resolved from the α in the branched samples by curve fitting and its activation parameters determined. The γ relaxation peak in oxidized polymers including its high asymmetry (low-temperature tail) and increasing emax with increasing frequency and temperature when plotted isochronally can be interpreted in terms of a simple nearly symmetrical relaxation time spectrum that narrows with increasing temperature. No increase in relaxation strength with temperature was found. The chlorinated polymers behave similarly but appear to have some Boltzmann enhancement (450–750 cal/mole) of relaxation strength with temperature. The dependence of relaxation strength on crystallinity indicates that the process is an amorphous one. Further, no evidence of relaxation peak shape changes with crystallinity that could be interpreted in terms of a crystalline component in addition to the amorphous one was found. The comparison of the γ relaxation strength with that expected on the basis of full participation of amorphous dipoles indicates that only a small fraction (∼10% in oxidized linear polymers) of them are involved in the relaxation. Thus it would seem that a glass–rubber transition interpretation is not indicated but rather a localized chain motion. It is suggested that the γ process, including its intensity, width, and activation parameters, can be interpreted in terms of an (unspecified) localized conformational (bond rotation) motion that is perturbed by differing local packing environments. The thermal expansion lessens the effects of variations in packing and leads to narrowing with increasing temperature. The conformational motion itself leads to increase in thermal expansion and hence a transition in the latter property. Some previously proposed localized amorphous phase conformational motions appear to be suitable candidates for the bond rotation motion. A weak relaxation peak found at temperatures below the γ and at 10 kHz may possibly be the dielectric analog of the δ cryogenic peak found previously mechanically at lower frequencies.

Vibrational analysis of polyethylene terephthalate and its deuterated derivatives

Abstract: The vibrational analysis of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene-d/sub 4/ terephthalate, and polyethylene terephthalate-d/sub 4/ was carried out using a valence force field calculated from the infrared and Raman spectra of a series of low molecular weight aromatic esters. The Raman spectra for polyethylene-d/sub 4/ terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate-d/sub 4/ are presented and band assignments for these compounds and polyethylene terephthalate are discussed. (auth)

A crystallographic study of polymers exhibiting side-chain crystallization

Abstract: Fibers were drawn from polymers of octadecyl acrylate, octadecyl methacrylate, N-octadecylacrylamide, and a series of N-substituted acrylamides with a second amide group in the side chain as well as from copolymers of octadecyl and methyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid. Wide-angle and small-angle x-ray diffraction patterns were recorded for these materials. The interpretation of the characteristic difference between the behavior of the polycrylates and polymethacrylates, as proposed by Plate and his collaborators, is found to be inconsistent with a number of features of the experimental evidence. In the case of poly(octadecyl methacrylate) the data allow the estimation of two parameters of the electron density distribution in the side-chain crystallites. With polyacrylamide derivatives, a second amide group in the side chain is found to destabilize the side chain crystallites. The bahavior of the copolymers is very complex and exhibits, in one case, evidence for a long periodicity parallel to the fiber axis.

Quasielastic scattering by dilute polymer solutions

Abstract: The scattering law S(k,w) for dilute polymer solutions is obtained from Kirkwood's diffusion equation via the projection operator technique. The width Ω(k) of S(k,w) is obtained for all k without replacing the Oseen tensor by its average (as is done in the Rouse–Zimm model) using the “spring-bead” model ignoring memory effects. For small (ka ≪ 1) and large (ka ≫ 1) values of k we find Ω = 0.195 k2/β α η0 and Ω = k2/βξ, respectively, indicating that the width is governed mainly by the viscosity η0 for small k values and by the friction coefficient ξ for large k values. For intermediate k values which are of importance in neutron scattering we find that in the Rouse limit Ω = k4a2/12βξ. When the hydrodynamic effects are included, Ω(k) becomes 0.055 k3/βη0. Using the Rouse–Zimm model, it is seen that the effect of pre-averaging the Oseen tensor is to underestimate the half-width Ω(k). The implications of the theoretical predictions for scattering experiments are discussed.

A raman spectroscopic determination of the interlamellar forces in crystalline n‐alkanes and of the limiting elastic modulus Ec of polyethylene

Abstract: A simple treatment based on continuum mechanics shows that weak interlamellar forces in crystalline n-alkanes should result in a characteristic upward shift of the frequencies of the longitudinal acoustical (LA) modes, which is independent of the chain length and decreases inversely with the mode order. A raman spectroscopic determination of the LA mode frequencies of a series of different n-alkanes confirms the theoretical conclusion and permits a derivation of a force constant characteristic of the interlamellar forces. The discussion results in a new formula valid for the LA mode frequencies of the orthorhombic n-alkanes in the acoustical limit and yields a new determination of the limiting elastic modulus Ec of crystalline polyethylene. The value obtained, Ec = 2.9 × 1012 dyne/cm2, is markedly smaller than the value derived by Schaufele and Shimanouchi neglecting the influence of the interlamellar forces on the LA mode frequencies.

Gelation‐crystallization in isotactic polystyrene solutions and its implications to crystal morphology, to the origin and structure of gels, and to the chemical homogeneity of polyolefins

Abstract: As part of a wider study on the crystallization of isotactic polystyrene solutions it was observed that at sufficient concentrations (> 3–5%) gelation sets in below a certain (very high) supercooling in competition with the usual single crystal formation which in itself produces turbid suspensions. It was established that gelation is a form of crystallization (mode A) which must be of fringed micellar type to provide the connectedness as opposed to the chain folded lamellae (mode B) which gives rise to discrete particles. The gel crystals (A) display sharp melt endotherms and produce distinct x-ray diffraction patterns both of which, however, differ decisively from those provided by crystals B, a distinction which can be preserved even after removal of the solvent. The melting points of A are significantly lower than those of B and the x-ray diffraction patterns of A are incompatible with the recognized structure of polystyrene (31 helix) possessed by B; they point to a broadly planar zig-zag arrangement of the chain. This strongly suggests that we have blocks of chemically distinct sequences which could be syndiotactic or head-to-head tail-to-tail (presently with substantial support for the latter) which is responsible for the gel forming crystallization. However, so far the C13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) results do not provide the evidence for these distinct species but explanations for our observations on any other basis seem to lead to unsuperable difficulties from other points of view. Consequently, the paper is left open ended with the possibilities discussed. Amongst these the existence of a very few but long, chemically distinct sequences seems most attractive. The wider implications of the facts as they stand for crystal morphology (fringed micelles versus lamellae), for the origin and structure of gels in general, for the crystallization of block copolymers and for issues relating to chemical homogeneity (tacticity, head-to-head tail-to-tail) are discussed and preliminary effects are quoted which indicate that these issues may also be relevant to the usual atactic polymers.

A simple phenomenological approach to the thermal behavior of glasses during uniform heating or cooling

Abstract: Thermal behavior of glasses, as observed from the isobaric variations of volume, v, and enthalpy, H, is analyzed in terms of retardation kinetics. A phenomenological theory involving a single retardation time, τ, is developed, assuming that molecular mobility is controlled essentially by the actual free volume, or configurational entropy of the glassy specimen. The characteristic features of the v and H isobars, as derived from the theory, are examined as a function of the thermal history of a typical glassy specimen. The respective contributions of temperature and structural parameters to τ, are also discussed in terms of the characteristic parameters of the isobars. The theoretical predictions are compared with some dilatometric data obtained with an atactic polystyrene. The comparison reveals the limitations of the theoretical treatment and suggests that glass-transition phenomena involve more than one retardation mechanism.

Comments on the optical properties of fully conjugated polymers: Analogy between polyenes and polydiacetylenes

Abstract: The similarity of the π-electron backbones of the polyenes and the polydiacetylenes suggests an analogy between these two fully conjugated, linear polymers. The extent of the analogy is discussed through the examination of a series of model compounds: the polyenes and the polyenynes. The optical band gaps and the polarizabilities of polyenynes are compared to those of the polyenes and to the predictions of a modified free-electron model. It is concluded that the chain-dependent electronic properties of the polyenes may be extrapolated with some confidence to the polydiacetylenes.

Dynamics of macromolecular chains. III. Time-dependent fluorescence polarization studies of local motions of polystyrene in solution

Abstract: Fluorescence anisotropy decay experiments are described for polystyrene in various ethylacetate-tripropionin mixtures. Decay curve trends agree with the proposed theoretical autocorrelation function. Study of the effects of viscosity shows that the mean relaxation time varies according to a nonlinear law for low viscosities and that the relaxation time θ, reflecting the effects of the possible departures from the motions permitted by an ideal tetrahedral lattice, obeys a law of the type: θ = α + bη. Furthermore, the effects of the direction of the fluorophore transition moment are examined.

Quantitative information from x‐ray diffraction of nylon‐6 yarns. I. Development of a model for the analytical description of equatorial x‐ray profiles

Abstract: A wide-angle x-ray method has been developed by which quantitative structural information can be obtained on nylon-6 yarns. To this end, experimental equatorial diffractometer scans measured in transmission were fitted to a mathematical model describing the profiles as the envelopes of three bell-shaped functions. Four different models were investigated using, respectively, Gauss, Lorentz (Cauchy), Logistic, and Pearson-VII functions. The last model, which can be regarded as a generalized Lorentz function, gave the best fit. On the basis of a statistical analysis of the results of well-separated x-ray peaks, two parameters could be fixed. Another reduction of the number of parameters was achieved by interrelating the peak areas of the two outer reflections. These reductions widened the applicability of a computer program based on the aforementioned model to highly overlapping x-ray peaks. So the whole variety of x-ray scans, which can be obtained from nylon-6 yarns made under widely varying process conditions, can be well described. The fitting procedures provide unique solutions and hence objectively determined parameters.

Application of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to the study of semicrystalline polymers: Poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract: An infrared absorbance subtraction technique has been used to “isolate” bands in the composite spectrum of semicrystalline polymers according to their crystalline or amorphous character. Amorphous and crystalline spectra for annealed, melt-quenched, and solution-cast poly(ethylene terephthalate) have been separated. The spectra of the amorphous component show an increased intensity of bands associated with the trans configuration of oxygen about the CC bond when the polymer is annealed. This increased “trans” band intensity reflects the increased proportion of trans structures as a result of annealing. The amorphous trans bands are shifted approximately 1–3 cm−1 from their positions in the crystalline “trans” spectrum. The frequency shift of these bands can be attributed to the differences in chain interactions that exist in the amorphous phase and the crystalline lattice. We have also found that under identical anealing conditions the amorphous phase of the melt-quenched polymer contains an increased intensity of conformational trans bands compared to the sample cast from solution.

Localized flow birefringence of polyethylene oxide solutions in a two roll mill

Abstract: We report flow birefringence observations of polyethylene oxide solutions in a four roll mill where the flow field in the central region of the mill approximates well to that of pure shearing flow. When flow birefringence is observed it is seen to be highly localized within a region close to the “outgoing” asymptotic plane of flow. The phenomenon can be explained in terms of the flow birefringence corresponding to high extension of some polymer chains where the localization is caused by the chains requiring sufficient time in the flow field to become extended. This explanation has important consequences in all “persistently extensional flows” and can explain the origin of previously published results of localized flow birefringence observed for polyethylene solutions in axial compression and axial extensional flows.

Characterization of polystyrene networks by small‐angle neutron scattering

Abstract: Polystyrene networks prepared by anionic polymerization have been characterized by small-angle neutron scattering. Two kinds of systems have been examined: (A) networks with labelled branch points allowing characterization of the spatial distribution of crosslinking points; (B) networks containing a low proportion of chains labelled with perdeuterated polystyrene in order to characterize the conformation of individual elastic chains of the polymeric network. The dependence of the results on swelling and uniaxial extension is discussed.

Thermally stimulated and isothermal depolarization currents in low‐density polyethylene

Abstract: Thermally stimulated and isothermal depolarization currents of three low-density polyethylenes are investigated in the temperature range 80–320°K. The thermally stimulated current spectra can be analyzed in terms of a continuous relaxation time spectrum. This spectrum can be resolved into three Gaussian distributions of activation energies centered near 140°K (γ-relaxation), 205°K, and 245°K (β-relaxation) in agreement with electrical and mechanical loss factor measurements. The experimental observation are explained in terms of reorienting dipoles, coupling the molecular motion to the electrical field.

Mechanical loss processes in polysaccharides

Abstract: Dynamic mechanical properties of cellophane, amylose, and dextran have been obtained over the temperature range 100–520°K and frequency range 10−2 to 10+2 Hz on specimens containing various amounts of water. Four mechanical transitions have been characterized. At about 180°K, there is a γ transition that has been assigned to rotation of methylol groups; no comparable transition was found to exist in dextran. At about 240°K, there is a β transition that has been assigned to rotation of methylol–water complexes, but the β transition in dextran appears to be due to some other kind of motion. In cellophane at about 450°K there is an α2 transition which appears to have contributions from motion of chain segments in disordered regions. The α1 transition for cellophane occurs at temperatures too high to measure and may be due to segmental motions in chains within crystalline regions. Dextran and amylose were found to have at these same temperatures α loss processes that probably correspond to glass–rubber transitions in amorphous material. The changes in these mechanical loss mechanisms due to moisture uptake suggest that sorbed water associates with glucose repeat units in ways ranging from those which stiffen molecular structure to those which allow greater freedom for other types of motion to occur.

Crystal structure of poly(m‐phenylene isophthalamide)

Abstract: The crystal structure of poly(m-phenyulene isophthalamide) was determined by x-ray analysis. The triclinic cell, with a = 5.27 A, b = 5.25 A, c (fiber axis) = 11.3 A, α = 111.5°, β = 111.4° and γ = 88.0° and space group P1, contains one monomeric unit. The crystal density is 1.47 g/cc. The molecules in the crystal are contracted by 1 A per monomeric unit from the fully extended conformation, and the planes of the benzene rings and adjacent amide groups make angles of about 30°. The crystal is composed of molecular chains connected by NH···O hydrogen bonds along the a and b axes forming a “jungle gym” network structure. The low tensile modulus of this polymer as compared with that of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) is attributed to the contracted molecular conformation.

A theory of the stress-induced crystallization of crosslinked polymeric networks

Abstract: A non-Gaussian theory of the stress-induced crystallization of polymeric networks is presented. It is predicted that for uniaxial extension of crosslinked polyethylene, a perfectly oriented, extended-chain crystal is formed initially, changing to one-fold crystal oriented perpendicular to the stretch direction at low extension and to a two-fold crystal having nearly perfect orientation at high extension. The stress is predicted to decay initially and then to rise as the network chains switch from an extended- to a folded-chain morphology, the rise being delayed and finally suppressed by additional crosslinking. The final, equilibrium birefringence is calculated and found to be negative at low extension and positive at high extension. The initial rate of crystallization is calculated using irreversible thermodynamics and is found to increase with extension and decrease with increasing crosslinking and temperature. All of the theoretical predictions are in qualitative agreement with experiment.