Segmental and secondary dynamics in hydrogen‐bonded poly(4‐vinylphenol)/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy was used to study the segmental (α) and secondary (β) relaxations in hydrogen‐bonded poly(4‐vinylphenol)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PVPh/PMMA) blends with PVPh concentrations of 20–80% and at temperatures from ?30 to approximately glass‐transition temperature (T_g) + 80 °C. Miscible blends were obtained by solution casting from methyl ethyl ketone solution, as confirmed by single differential scanning calorimetry T_g and single segmental relaxation process for each blend. The β relaxation of PMMA maintains similar characteristics in blends with PVPh, compared with neat PMMA. Its relaxation time and activation energy are nearly the same in all blends. Furthermore, the dielectric relaxation strength of PMMA β process in the blends is proportional to the concentration of PMMA, suggesting that blending and intermolecular hydrogen bonding do not modify the local intramolecular motion. The α process, however, represents the segmental motions of both components and becomes slower with increasing PVPh concentration because of the higher T_g. This leads to well‐defined α and β relaxations in the blends above the corresponding T_g, which cannot be reliably resolved in neat PMMA without ambiguous curve deconvolution. The PMMA β process still follows an Arrhenius temperature dependence above T_g, but with an activation energy larger than that observed below T_g because of increased relaxation amplitude. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3405–3415, 2004     

Relaxation Processes and Glass Transition in Polymer Filled with Nanoparticles

We report the results of the investigations of the influence of filling of polymer with Aerosil nanosize particles on the glass transition and dynamics of the α- and the β-relaxation processes in poly(n-octyl methacrylate) by dielectric spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The polymer was filled with hydrophilic and hydrophobic Aerosil particles of 12 nm diameter. In filled polymers the characteristic frequency of the alpha-process was shifted to higher frequencies in comparison with pure bulk polymer at the same temperature. This suggests that the filling of the polymer with nanoparticles has resulted in the shift of its glass transition temperature T_g. This change in T_g was mainly due to the existence of a developed solid particle-polymer interface and the difference in the dynamic behavior of the polymer in the surface layers at this interface compared to the bulk behavior. This result was in agreement with DSC experiments.     

Atomistic Simulation of Bulk Mechanics and Local Dynamics of Amorphous Polymers

Summary: In order to have better insight into the polymer specifics of the dynamic glass transition molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations of three glass-formers have been carried out: low-molecular-weight isopropylbenzene (iPB), brittle atactic polystyrene (PS) and tough bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC). Simulation of the uniaxial deformation of these mechanically different types of amorphous polymers shows that the mechanical experimental data could be realistically reproduced. Now the objective is to study the local orientational mobility in the non-deformed isotropic state and to find the possible connection of the segmental dynamics with the different bulk mechanical properties. Local orientational mobility has been studied via Legendre polynomials of the second order and CONTIN analysis. Insight into local orientational dynamics on a range of length- and time scales is acquired. The fast transient ballistic process describing the very initial part of the relaxation has been observed for all temperatures. For all three simulated materials the slowing down of cage escape (α-relaxation) follows mode-coupling theory above T_g, with non-universal, material-specific exponents. Below T_g universal activated segmental motion has been found. At high temperature the α process is merged with the β process. The β process which corresponds to the motions within cage continues below T_g and can be described by an activation law.     

Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy of amorphous and liquid-crystalline side-chain polycarbonates

The molecular dynamics of amorphous and liquid-crystalline (LC) side-chain polycarbonates was studied by dielectric spectroscopy at frequencies from 10⁻² to 10⁶ Hz and at temperatures from −160 to 180°C. ‘Model’ compounds containing no mesogenic side-groups showed two relaxations, which originate from the carbonate group (α, β_m-relaxation). By contrast, in LC-polycarbonates bearing a mesogenic nitrostilbene side group around and above the glass transition temperature T_g up to three relaxation modes were distinguished (α-, λ₁-, λ₂-process); below T_g four secondary relaxations (γ-, β_m-, β_s-, β_sc-relaxation) were observed. The γ-relaxation was found only in compounds possessing an aliphatic spacer linked to the backbone by an ether bond. Apart from β_m-, two additional β-processes were identified as relaxations associated with the mesogenic unit in the glassy (β_s) or in the crystalline state (β_sc).     

Study of the α-relaxation of PVC, EVA and 50/50 EVA70/PVC blend

The dipole dynamics and α-relaxation behaviour of polyvinyl chloride PVC, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl-acetate) EVA₇₀ and blend of them EVA₇₀/PVC have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms measured on samples show a single glass transition in the analysed temperature range. These three polymers are wholly amorphous and pure PVC and pure EVA₇₀ are miscible in the ratio 1:1. The glass transition temperature T_g decreases significantly with presence of EVA₇₀. Furthermore, the values of apparent activation energies for molecular motions at the α-relaxation and the values of fragility index have also been determined for each sample using Moynihan expression for DSC results and Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann-Hesse (VFTH) form for DRS results. It is shown a large dependence of all the values of these parameters with the content of EVA₇₀. Comparing these three polymers, we found that the more fragile glass forming liquid is the PVC. Fragility decreases drastically with EVA₇₀ content. EVA₇₀ and EVA₇₀/PVC blend exhibit practically the same behaviour. The effect of inter- and intra-molecular interactions on fragility is discussed to explain these variations.     

Glass transition temperature and thermal decomposition of cellulose powder

Cellulose powder and cellulose pellets obtained by pressing the microcrystalline powder were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermal gravimetry (TG). The TG method enabled the assessment of water content in the investigated samples. The glass phase transition in cellulose was studied using the DSC method, both in heating and cooling runs, in a wide temperature range from −100 to 180 °C. It is shown that the DSC cooling runs are more suitable for the glass phase transition visualisation than the heating runs. The discrepancy between glass phase transition temperature T _g found using DSC and predictions by Kaelbe’s approach are observed for “dry” (7 and 5.3% water content) cellulose. This could be explained by strong interactions between cellulose chains appearing when the water concentration decreases. The T _g measurements vs. moisture content may be used for cellulose crystallinity index determination.     

Thermal Measurements on Poly[2,2'-(m-phenylene)-5,5'-bibenzimidazole] Fibers

Fibers drawn form poly[2,2'-(m-phenylene)-5,5'-bibenzimidazole] (PBI) were studied by DSC and DMA. PBI is a high temperature polymer T _g is between 387 and450°C depending on the measurement technique used. The as-spun fiber is free of orientation. The oriented fiber exhibits considerable dependence on whether the DSC measurements were carried out in free-to-shrink or fixed-length modes. The β-relaxation is at 290°C, and was associated with loss of water. The γ-transition at 20°C was not identified, while theδ-transition at –90°C seems to correspond to rotation of the m-phenylene ring. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

MULTIPLE MELTING BEHAVIOR OF β-CRYSTALLINE PHASE POLYPROPYLENE

Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction experiments on β-nucleated polypropylene were made on the samples crystallized at different temperatures and processed by injection molding. The crystal perfection was shown to vary with crystallization temperature. The observed multiple peaks could be related to a ill-phase with defective inclination of the chains, a recrystallized or original β_2-phase of more perfect inclination, and the α-phase. Injection molded samples could be analyzed from the established DSC interpretation.     

Plastic deformation of poly(tetramethylene oxide). II. Molecular orientation as measured by x-ray diffraction and NMR measurements

The orientation of the crystalline and amorphous phases in uniaxially drawn samples of polytetramethylene oxide has been studied by x-ray and NMR methods. Pole figure measurements give the orientation of the crystalline phase. Its dependence on the draw ratio does not obey the pseudoaffine model. The crystalline fraction is derived from NMR measurements at temperatures between T_g and T_m, where the free induction decay (FID) of the unoriented sample can be analyzed in terms of a rigid (crystalline), a constrained, and an amorphous phase. Low temperature (T < T_g) measurements of the NMR second-moment anisotropy in protonated and deuterated samples give a mean orientation of the chains higher than that corresponding to the crystalline phase. The lack of anisotropy in the tail of the FID at temperatures between T_g and T_m indicates no appreciable anisotropy in the truly amorphous interlamellar phase. From this and from the ratio of the P₄/P₂ orientations, factors which obey the “most probable distribution,” it is concluded that the amorphous orientation is due to the layer of constrained chains at the surface of the lamellae.     

Polymer segmental dynamics and solvent thermal transitions in poly(ethyl acrylate)/p‐xylene mixtures

A poly(ethyl acrylate) polymer network was swollen with different concentrations of the nonpolar solvent p‐xylene, c_px, from xerogel until saturation (0 ≤ c_px ≤ 0.85). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) techniques were employed to study the polymer segmental dynamics and the solvent thermal transitions in homogeneous (c_px < 0.20) and partially crystallized (c_px ≥ 0.20) PEA/p‐xylene mixtures. Our DSC measurements indicate that p‐xylene undergoes cold crystallization for intermediate solvent concentrations, 0.20 ≤ c_px ≤ 0.30 while for higher c_px values crystallization takes place during cooling. The results show that for c_px ≤ 0.30 the T_g decreases with increasing c_px (plasticization effect) obeying the respective Fox equation. For the same c_px range we found that both the dielectric strength and the heat capacity increment of the segmental (α) relaxation process increase gradually with c_px whereas the distribution of relaxation times for the underlying molecular relaxations does not change. For c_px > 0.30 the partially crystallized mixtures exhibit a constant T_g corresponding to the gel phase of PEA with an amount of p‐xylene which is not able to crystallize under any conditions. The concentration of this noncrystallized p‐xylene, c_UCpx, has been estimated to be between 0.12 and 0.15, independent of the total p‐xylene concentration in the mixtures. When a separate p‐xylene crystal phase is formed (for c_px > 0.30) the segmental dielectric strength and heat capacity increment decrease significantly exhibiting values significantly lower than those measured for the homogeneous gels. In addition, we found that the presence of p‐xylene crystals may induce marginal spatial heterogeneity of polymer (or p‐xylene) concentration within the gel phase affecting thus slightly the breath of the segmental relaxation of PEA. We attribute these results to restrictions of polymer segmental configurations due to constraints imposed by the p‐xylene crystals and/or to the immobilization of a part of the polymer chains. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Dynamical properties of ethylene glycol and glucose studied by temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry and Brillouin scattering

The fragility of ethylene glycol and glucose aqueous solution systems has been investigated by temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). The frequency and temperature dependences of complex specific heat have been observed in the vicinity of a glass-transition temperature T _g . It is shown that the value of the fragility index m can be determined from the temperature dependence of the α-relaxation times observed by TMDSC. We have also studied the elastic properties of these aqueous solutions by micro-Brillouin scattering, and determined these relaxation times of elastic properties in the gigahertz range.     

Effect of sorbitan-based surfactants on glass transition temperature of cellulose esters

Thermal behavior of mixtures composed of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), carboxymethylcellulose acetate butyrate (CMCAB), or cellulose acetate phthalate (CAPh), and sorbitan-based surfactants was investigated as a function of mixture composition by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Surfactants with three different alkyl chain lengths, namely, polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), polyoxyethylenesorbitan monopalmitate (Tween 40), and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (Tween 60) were chosen. DSC measurements revealed that Tween 20, 40, and 60 act as plasticizers for CAB, CMCAB, and CAPh (except for Tween 60), leading to a dramatic reduction of glass transition temperature (T _g). The dependence of experimental T _g values on the mixture composition was compared with theoretical predictions using the Fox equation. Plasticization was strongly dependent on mixture composition, surfactant hydrophobic chain length, and type of cellulose ester functional group.     

Dynamic light scattering from bulk poly(n-hexylmethacrylate) near and above the glass transition

Photon correlation spectra of polarized scattered light from poly(n-hexylmethacrylate) PHMA (M_w = 1.6·10⁵, T_g = ?5°C) have been studied in the temperature range of ?2–25°C. The experimental time correlation functions over the time range 10^?6?10² s were represented by the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts (KWW) function exp{?(t/τ)^β} with a virtually temperature-independent distribution parameter β = 0.27 ± 0.02. The observed relaxation functions were also analyzed in terms of a continuous distribution of retardation times L(τ) by means of a direct inverse Laplace transformation. The computed L(τ) distributions reveal a broad single peak structure in agreement with the results of the single KWW fit. The temperature dependence of τ is very similar to that of the shift factors obtained from measurements of the shear modulus and the stress relaxation modulus in the glass-rubber region. Conversely, the values of τ compare well with those extracted from the experimental dielectric loss peaks consistently represented in the time domain by the KWW function. These findings suggest that the slow density fluctuations in bulk PHMA are associated with the primary glass-rubber or α-relaxation, which, however, displays an unusual low apparent Arrhenius activation energy and a rather low β value. PHMA exhibits significant dynamic light scattering with correlation times faster than 10^?6 s near T_g. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Viscoelastic properties of amorphous polymers. 5. A coupling model analysis of the thermorheological complexity of polyisobutylene in the glass-rubber softening dispersion

Isothermal data of high molecular weight polyisobutylene obtained by mechanical measurements with a spectral range over eight decades and additional photon correlation measurements have found that there are three distinct viscoelastic mechanisms in the glass-rubber transition zone. Theoretical considerations have helped to identify these three mechanisms to originate separately from local segmental (α) modes, sub-Rouse (sR) modes, and Rouse (R) modes. The temperature dependences of the shift factors of these mechanisms, a_T,α, a_T,sR and a_T,R, determined over a common temperature range are found to be all different. The differences in temperature dependences are explained quantitatively by the coupling model. The local segmental motion contributes to compliances ranging from the glassy compliance, J_g, up to 10^−8.5 Pa⁻¹. The sub-Rouse modes contribute in the compliance range, 10^−8.5 ≤ J(t) ≤ 10⁻⁷ Pa⁻¹. The Rouse modes account for the compliances in the range of 10⁻⁷ Pa⁻¹ ≤ J(t) ≤ J_plateau, where J_plateau is the plateau compliance. The magnitudes of the bounds given here are only rough estimates. Shift factors, a_T, obtained by time-temperature superpositioning of viscoelastic data taken in the softening transition over a limited experimental window are shown to be a combination of the three individual shifts factors, a_T,α, a_T,sR, and a_T,R. Consequently, care must be exercised in interpreting or using the WLF equation that fits the shift factors of the entire softening dispersion, because the latter do not describe the temperature dependence of any one of the three viscoelastic mechanisms. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys, 35: 599–614, 1997     

Phase transitions and relaxation processes in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers probed by fluorescence spectroscopy

The steady-state fluorescence of pyrene and anthracene are used to investigate the relaxation processes of several random ethylene-co-vinyl acetate copolymers, EVA, with defined comonomer compositions (EVA-9, EVA-18, EVA-25, EVA-33 and EVA-40). The temperature of the relaxation processes are compared with those of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc). The polymer relaxation processes are assigned to T_g=300-310 K (glass transition temperature of the PVAc); T_α=270-300 K (relaxation processes of the ethylene units present in LDPE and EVA); T_g=220-250 K (glass transition of the LDPE and of the EVA); T_γ or T_β=160-190 K (relaxation processes of interfacial defects of methylenic chains of LDPE and rotation of the acetate group of the PVAc and the EVA); and T_γ=90-130 K (relaxation processes of small sequences of methylene units of LDPE and end groups of PVAc). An Arrhenius-type function was employed as an attempt to represent the experimental data of fluorescence intensity versus temperature above the γ-relaxation temperature. As obtained with other techniques, there is not a simple relationship between the polymer relaxation processes and the vinyl acetate content that can be explained by the morphology in these copolymers.     

Non-enzymatic browning-induced water plasticization

An exotherm, observed in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) scans of amorphous food materials above their glass transition temperature,T _g, may occur due to sugar crystallization, nonenzymatic browning, or both. In the present study, this exothermal phenomenon in initially anhydrous skim milk and lactose-hydrolyzed skim milk was considered to occur due to browning during isothermal holding at various temperatures above the initialT _g. The nonenzymatic, Maillard browning reaction produces water that in amorphous foods, may plasticize the material and reduceT _g. The assumption was that quantification of formation of water from theT _g depression, which should not be observed as a result of crystallization under anhydrous conditions, can be used to determine kinetics of the nonenzymatic browning reaction. The formation of water was found to be substantial, and the amount formed could be quantified from theT _g measured after isothermal treatment at various temperatures using DSC. The rate of water formation followed zero-order kinetics, and its temperature dependence well aboveT _g was Arrhenius-type. Although water plasticization of the material occurred during the reaction, and there was a dynamic change in the temperature differenceT–T _g, the browning reaction was probably diffusioncontrolled in anhydrous skim milk in the vicinity of theT _g of lactose. This could be observed from a significant increase in activation energy. The kinetics and temperature dependence of the Maillard reaction in skim milk and lactose-hydrolyzed skim milk were of similar type well above the initialT _g. The difference in temperature dependence in theT _g region of lactose, but above that of lactose-hydrolyzed skim milk, became significant, as the rate in skim milk, but not in lactose-hydrolyzed skim milk, became diffusion-controlled. The results showed that rates of diffusion-controlled reactions may follow the Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equation, as kinetic restrictions become apparent within amorphous materials in reactions exhibiting high rates at the same temperature under non-diffusion-controlled conditions.     

Solid-state relaxations in poly(ethylene oxide). I. Study using the differential scanning calorimetry method

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies show that poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) exhibits three transition regions below its melting point. The effects of annealing on the intensity and temperature of these transitions enable us to locate T < T_g (T_γ) T_g, and T_α at about 130–140. 190–240, and 263–313°K, respectively. Our results argue for a small transition T_g (L) at 190–200°K with a second T_g (U) above 233°K, the temperature of which increases on annealing. The shape of DSC derivative curves reveals that T < T_g and T_α are complex and suggests the possibility of two steps in these processes. In addition, a splitting of T_α is observed every time a multiple melting endotherm appears as a result of annealing. Up to three separate melting endotherms can be observed. One of them is related to the normal primary crystallization process. Its peak temperature increases linearly with the annealing temperature, yielding an extrapolated value for the equilibrium melting temperature T of 347°K as found before.     

Infrared spectroscopic studies of polymer transitions. III. Effects of sodium ion on glass transitions in styrene-based ionomers

The glass transition in styrene-based ionomers was investigated by means of infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Transition temperatures were determined from the temperature dependence of the peak absorbances of the 1700 and 1745 cm^?1 bands. These transition temperatures agreed with glass transition temperatures (T_g) determined by DSC. With increasing degree of ionization, T_g and the enthalpy ΔH of the residual intermolecular hydrogen bonding increased. The values of T_g obtained were analyzed by the theory of Fox and Loshaek for the effect of crosslinks. It is concluded that sodium ions probably from ionic domains and act as crosslinks to reinforce the residual hydrogen bonding and may increase T_g. The absorbance at 1560 cm^?1 (ν_COO^?) did not change at T_g. This suggests that the glass transition observed here is not due to the onset of the mobility in ionic domains, as has been proposed for ethylene-based ionomers on the basis of dielectric measurements.     

The effects of combined pressure–temperature on mechanical behavior of polypropylene

The effects of combined pressure and temperature on the mechanical behavior of polypropylene have been studied. Tests were conducted in tension and compression superimposed on various hydrostatic pressures up to 7 kbar at temperatures of 20, 50, and 75°C. The experimental data have been analyzed in view of molecular and continuum approaches. It has been observed that the Young's modulus and the yield strength in both tension and compression increased significantly with increasing pressure at all temperatures studied. However, the rate of increase of the Young's modulus undergoes abrupt change about the glass-transition pressure (P_g). The P_g is linearly dependent on the test temperature and the pressure coefficient of the T_g is estimated, from P_g versus temperature relations, to be about 18°C/kbar for the polypropylene samples of this study. Pressure dependence of the yield stress is described by a generalized Eyring theory incorporating pressure effects and two flow mechanisms, the α- and the β-relaxation processes. The theory predicts a bilinear dependence of the yield stress of polypropylene on hydrostatic pressure as observed in the tests. The paper also described a method of healing stress whitening in polypropylene by a combination of shear stress and hydrostatic pressure.     

Novel cellulose derivatives. V. Synthesis and thermal properties of esters with trifluoroethoxy acetic acid

Esters of cellulose with trifluoroethoxy acetic acid (TFAA) were prepared in homogeneous phase using a mixed anhydride with p‐toluenesulfonic acid. Esters with low degree of substitution (DS), and with DS rising from 0 to 3, had hydrophobic character that prevented the usual association with moisture, which is otherwise typical of cellulose esters with low DS. Cellulose trifluoroethoxy acetate (CT) had T_g's declining by about 40 °C per DS‐unit (from 160 to 41 °C) as DS rose from 1 to 3. Mixed esters, cellulose derivatives with acetate and trifluoroethoxy acetate substituents (CAT), exhibited glass‐to‐rubber and melting transitions by DSC. A linear relationship between both T_g and T_m with respect to DS was recorded with the T_g and T_m separated by 30° to 40 °C. This is consistent with cellulose esters described elsewhere. Surprisingly, the T_g's of CT and CAT were found to be identical when the DS was equivalent to the DS of the fluoro substituents (DS_F). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 486–494, 2000