Laser Raman scattering in uniaxially oriented atactic polystyrene

Raman polarization measurements of atactic polystyrene (APS) films were recorded after uniaxial stretching. Twelve different polarization directions were observed by varying the direction and polarization of the laser and scattered radiation. The polarization behavior of several vibration modes were shown clearly in the Raman spectra. On the basis of these polarization properties and previous vibrational studies of model compounds of polystyrene as well as of monosubstituted benzene derivatives, a reassignment of some of the vibrational modes of APS is made and discussed.     

Raman scattering in nonplanar poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The Raman scattering of nonplanar (form 2) poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂) is described. Unique Raman bands not observed in the infrared spectra are found at 2973, 1437, 1327, 1198, and 1059 cm^?1. Band assignments are discussed by comparing infrared and Raman spectra of form 2 PVF₂.     

Oriented crystallization of poly(L‐lactic acid) in uniaxially oriented blends with poly(vinylidene fluoride)

This article describes the oriented crystallization of poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) in uniaxially oriented blends with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). Uniaxially drawn films of PLLA/PVDF blend with fixed ends were heat‐treated in two ways to crystallize PLLA in oriented blend films. The crystal orientation of PLLA depended upon the heat‐treatment process. The crystal c‐axis of the α form crystal of PLLA was highly oriented in the drawing direction in a sample cold‐crystallized at T_c = 120 °C, whereas the tilt‐orientation of the [200]/ [110] axes of PLLA was induced in the sample crystallized at T_c = 120 °C after preheating at T_p = 164.5–168.5 °C. Detailed analysis of the wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) indicated that the [020]/ [310] crystal axes were oriented parallel to the drawing direction, which causes the tilt‐orientation of the [200]/ [110] axes and other crystal axes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) suggested that oriented crystallization occurs in the stretched domains of PLLA with diameters of 0.5–2.0 μm in the uniaxially drawn films of PVDF/PLLA = 90/10 blend. Although the mechanism for the oriented crystallization of PLLA was not clear, a possibility was heteroepitaxy of the [200]/[110] axes of the α form crystal of PLLA along the [201]/[111] axes of the β form crystal of PVDF that is induced by lattice matching of d₁₀₀(PLLA) ≈ 5d₂₀₁(PVDF). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1376–1389, 2008     

Morphology of uniaxially oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The morphological character of uniaxially oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films was investigated as a function of draw ratio. Dynamic mechanical, infrared, and crystallite-size measurements were made on the samples. In addition, selective degradation experiments and molecular weight determinations were employed. The dynamic mechanical measurements indicated a sharp decrease in irregular folds for draw ratios of 3.0 and higher, which also coincided with the essentially complete disappearence of regular folds (from the 988 cm^?1 band in the infrared spectra) in unannealed samples. Infrared studies of drawn samples annealed under different conditions gave evidence in support of a structure in which the chains are stretched out. Apparent crystallite-size measurements showed a sudden increase in length of the crystals in the direction of the draw beyond a draw ratio of 3.0. Molecular weight measurements showed a large increase in average chain length in the residue after selective degradation of amorphous material and folds; undrawn and slightly drawn samples gave a much lower M _n. Based on these observations, it is postulated that for higher draw ratios and present drawing conditions, the crystals are of the straight chain type, somewhat similar to the fringed-micelle crystal concept.     

Brillouin scattering of oriented films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) -poly( methyl methacrylate) blends

Temperature dependent Brillouin scattering studies of PVF₂ films stretched to various stretch ratios have been carried out. Elastic constants for unstretched and stretched films have been obtained as functions of temperature. The elastic constant C₃₃ of the stretched films has a greater temperature dependence than that of unstretched films. To elucidate the effect of the surrounding amorphous matrix on the Brillouin spectrum of semicrystalline PVF₂ film, we carried out Brillouin scattering studies of films made from blends of PVF₂ and PMMA.     

Dielectric absorption in oriented poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The dielectric behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride) is affected by orientation and crystal modification. The loss peak caused by molecular motion of the molecules in crystalline regions appears at about 70°C (110 Hz) (α₁ absorption) for the α form, and at about 110°C (110 Hz) (α₂ absorption) for the β form. Orientation significantly affects the magnitude of the β absorption which appears at about ?40°C. The very high value of the dielectric constant for stretched film is believed to be due to the orientation effect. The γ absorption, which is assumed to be local-mode absorption, is not so much affected by orientation. An additional loss peak has been found at around 0°C in dynamic mechanical measurements, but the molecular mechanism is unknown.     

Piezoelectricity of uniaxially stretched poly(vinylidene fluoride) corona poled at elevated temperature

X-ray diffraction, thermally stimulated depolarization, and piezoelectric current measurements have been carried out on uniaxially stretched poly(vinylidene fluoride) film, corona poled both negatively and positively at room temperature and at 90°C. Corona poling at elevated temperature considerably enhances the piezoelectric constant and is a more efficient way of charging the film than conventional thermal poling. Advantages over the latter are discussed.     

Processing and characterization of oriented electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) mats

Mats of highly oriented poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers were electrospun by means of a conventional electrospinning equipment; the orientation, however, was obtained using a disk collector rotating at a speed of 4000 rpm and a device that reduced the influence of air displacement during nanofiber orientation. Thermal transitions of the mats were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, the predominant crystalline phase by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and the nanofiber orientation and morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Relative permittivity, loss index, stable remnant polarization, and coercive field of the mats were also determined and compared with those obtained for a mat electrospun at 2000 rpm and an oriented commercial film. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 000: 000–000, 2012     

Spatial disposition of probe molecules in uniaxially oriented poly(N-vinylcarbazole): A dichroic absorption study

The orientation of uniaxially oriented poly(N-vinylcarbazole) has been investigated by dichroic spectral techniques. The infra-red dichroism of the carbazole ring vibration is related to both the crystalline and amorphous portions of the polymer, while the visible dichroic absorption of the probe molecule: 4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene is related only to the amorphous portion of the polymer. Surprisingly, the probe is found to align itself perpendicularly to the stretching direction.     

Piezoelectricity and viscoelastic crystalline dispersion in highly oriented poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The effects of poling temperature on piezoelectricity and its thermal stability were investigated on the basis of the thermal molecular motion associated with the crystalline region. This was done by using a film of highly oriented poly(vinylidene fluoride) containing form-I crystals. The film was prepared by a zone-drawing apparatus of the forced-quenching type. The piezoelectric stress constant e₃₁ is a monotonically increasing function of the poling temperature which becomes steeper above ca. 320 K and again at ca. 400 K. The degree of orientation of the crystal b axis generated by poling also increases more steeply with poling temperature above ca. 320 K and again at 400 K. These temperatures correspond, respectively, to the crystalline dispersion temperature at 11 Hz, designated as α_c, and the initiation temperature T_pm of large-scale molecular motion corresponding to premelting of form-I crystals. Thus the effect of poling temperature on piezoelectricity closely reflects the moleculer motion in form-I crystals. The annealing temperature T'_a at which e₃₁ decreases to 70% of that of unannealed sample by annealing a poled sample increases with the poling temperature and again this increase is steeper above poling temperatures of ca. 320 K and ca. 400 K. Thus the decay of piezoelectricity depends on both the α_c temperature and T_pm.     

Oriented lamellar structures in uniaxially drawn films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blends studied by small‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements

The lamellar structures in uniaxially drawn films of miscible crystalline/crystalline polymer blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were investigated by static and time‐resolved measurements of small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). Intense SAXS in the low angle range of the meridian was interpreted as originating from the interlamellar inclusion structure, in which the PHB chains were included between the lamellae of PVDF. The interlamellar inclusion was induced for the uniaxially drawn films of PVDF/PHB = 30/70 blend with a draw ratio (DR) of 2.8–4.5, whereas the lamellae of the PVDF and PHB components were mutually excluded from each other forming their own lamellar stacks (interlamellar exclusion) in the blend with a higher DR (5.0–5.7). When the highly drawn film with the interlamellar exclusion structure was heat treated at 154–165 °C, the interlamellar inclusion structure was partially induced by the heat treatment. The time‐resolved SAXS measurements indicated that the interlamellar inclusion structure was developed by melting and recrystallization of PVDF during the heat treatment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 381–392, 2009     

Polarized Raman scattering of concentrated solutions of poly(dimethyl siloxane) in benzene

Raman depolarization (ρ) measurements have been made over the temperature range 20 > T > 60°C for solutions of poly(dimethyl siloxane) (mol wt 7.7 × 10⁴ and 2.0 × 10⁴) for several concentrations up to 100%. The band studied was the highly polarized methyl stretch at 2907 cm^?1. Computer calculations of the probability p_t of a rotational isomer being trans allow the ρ values to be related to ΔG, the free energy of mixing. ΔG is plotted as a function of concentration and minima are observed at 60 ± 3% (mol wt = 7.7 × 10⁴) and 70 ± 3% (mol wt = 2 × 10⁴).     

Brillouin scattering studies of poly(vinylidene fluoride) films subject to uniaxial stretching

Brillouin scattering spectra of poly(vinylidene fluoride) films subject to stretching have been studied as a function of draw (stretch) ratios. The longitudinal sound velocity is found to be isotropic for the unoriented film, but as the film is stretched, the velocity along the direction of stretch becomes higher than that perpendicular to it. The increase in the sound velocity is due to the induced orientation of the chains in the amorphous and the crystalline regions. The Hermans orientation parameter has been determined as a function of stretch from the velocity data. The result indicates the occurrence of recrystallization and reorganization as a result of transformation to form I crystallites from the amorphous phase as the film is stretched.     

Surface-deformation characteristics of uniaxially oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) film as evaluated from nanoscratch tests with scanning probe microscopy

The surface-deformation characteristics of uniaxially drawn poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film were successfully evaluated with multiline scratch tests using scanning probe microscopy (SPM) on a nanometer scale. The PET film was prepared by compression molding from the melt, followed by quenching in ice water. The obtained amorphous film was drawn uniaxially below its glass-transition temperature, and the resultant surface roughness could be reduced to within 5 nm. A multiline scratch with the Si(3)N(4) tip of an SPM on the oriented PET surface was made parallel and perpendicular to the drawing axis under applied loads of 5-30 nN. The perpendicular scratching generated a characteristic periodic pattern on the film surface, but the parallel scratching induced a tearing of the surface. These results suggest that surface-deformation mechanisms were dominated by molecular anisotropy. The surface-deformation properties, as evaluated from scratch-angle dependences on morphological changes on a nanometer scale, were similar to the mechanical properties of the bulk.     

The morphology of poly(vinylidene fluoride) crystallized from blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) and poly(ethyl acrylate)

A combined optical and electron microscopical study has been carried out of the crystallization habits of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂) when it is crystallized from blends with noncrystallizable poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA). The PVF₂/PEA weight ratios were 0.5/99.5,5/95, and 15/85. Isothermal crystallization upon cooling the blends from the single-phase liquid region was carried out in the range 135–155°C, in which the polymer crystallizes in the α-orthorhombic unit cell form. The 0.5/99.5 blend yielded multilayered and planar lamellar crystals. The lamellae formed at low undercoolings were lozenge shaped and bounded laterally by {110} faces. This habit is prototypical of the dendritic lateral habits exhibited by the crystals grown from the same blend at high undercoolings as well as by the constituent lamellae in the incipient spherulitic aggregates and banded spherulites that formed from the 5/95 and the 15/85 blends, respectively. In contrast with the planar crystals grown from the 0.5/99.5 blend, the formation of the aggregates grown from the 5/95 blend is governed by a conformationally complex motif of dendritic lamellar growth and proliferation. The development of these aggregates is characterized by the twisting of the orientation of lamellae about their preferential b-axis direction of growth, coupled with a fan-like splaying or spreading of lamellae about that axis. The radial growth in the banded spherulites formed from the 15/85 blend is governed by a radially periodic repetition of a similar lamellar twisting/fan-like spreading growth motif whose recurrence corresponds to the extinction band spacing. This motif differs in its fan-like splaying component from banding due to just a helicoidal twisting of lamellae about the radial direction. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Conformation of poly(dimethyl siloxane) and polystyrene in solution measured by polarized Raman scattering

Depolarization ratios ρ have been measured over ranges of temperature T and molecular weight M for polystyrene (PS) dissolved in cyclohexane (1002 cm^?1 Raman band) and for poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) dissolved in benzene (2907 cm^?1 Raman band). The ranges in the case of PS are 15 < T < 65°C and 2 × 10³ < M < 4 × 10⁵ and in the case of PDMS are ?3 < T < 60°C and M = 10⁴. Measurements were also made of PDMS radii of gyration using conventional light scattering. The results are interpreted in terms of a theory connecting rotational isomeric populations with polymer extension. In the case of PDMS, an experimental value of the proportionality constant for trans isomers (D₂ = ?3.9 ± 0.9) is deduced. This is closer to the theoretical value than previous estimates but there is still some discrepancy. In the case of PS the isomeric changes resulting from extension are independent of M for M > 10⁴. Deviations are observed for lower M.     

Dielectric anisotropy in oriented poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene)

Dielectric measurements between ?50 and 60°C have been made on isotropic and oriented samples of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) with draw ratios λ of 1 to 3.5 at frequencies ranging from 30 Hz to 1 MHz. For the oriented samples, the dielectric loss has been measured with the electric field normal (ε) and parallel (ε) to the draw direction. At low frequency (say 60 Hz) the loss data for the oriented samples reveal two peaks at 25 and ?5°C, which are associated with the amorphous (γ_a) and the crystalline (γ_c) relaxations, respectively. Analysis of these data using a two-phase model yields values for the amorphous orientation function f_a which are only about 25 to 60% of those for the crystalline orientation function f_c. Upon annealing, the anisotropy ε/ε at the γ_a peak decreases significantly while that at the γ_c peak remains largely unchanged. This implies a roughly unaltered f_c and a large decrease in f_a, which is consistent with the results of wide-angle x-ray diffraction and birefringence measurements.     

Theory of second-order Raman scattering from a zigzag chain with application to polyethylene

The extinction coefficient for acoustic branch, second-order (two-phonon) Raman scattering from a zigzag chain, using force constants and polarizabilities appropriate to polyethylene is computed. As a consequence of the computation, we propose identification of a line at 890 cm^?1 in the published Raman spectrum of polyethylene as a second-order Raman line.     

Relationship between piezoelectricity and superstructure in highly oriented poly(vinylidene fluoride) film prepared by zone drawing

The oriented superstructure of poly(vinylidene fluoride) is controlled by using a forced-quenching type of zone drawing apparatus. Systematic variation of the weight fraction χ(I) of form-I crystals and the orientation function f_a of amorphous chains shows that the piezoelectricity increases with increasing χ(I) and f_a. A change in the state of molecular aggregation during poling is also effective in increasing the piezoelectricity and the orientation of the crystal b axis along the poling direction. Equations relating piezoelectricity to the form-I crystallinity, the orientation of amorphous chains, and the orientation of the crystal b axis along the poling direction are derived. These are based on a mechanical model having regions of taut tie molecules in parallel with composite regions consisting of crystalline and amorphous blocks in series.