The effect of degassing on the measurement of transverse relaxation times in molten polymers

Three commercially produced polymer samples (polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene) have been analyzed in the melt state using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T₂ relaxation methods using the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) spin-echo pulse sequence. Samples were run with exposure to air and again after extensive degassing at a vacuum of 10⁻⁴ mmHg for periods of not less than 96 h. The comparison is made by initially considering the presence of microscopic voids in the samples as a source of local field inhomogeneity and how they affect the T₂ relaxation behavior. For PP and PS samples, degassing caused a decrease in all T₂ time constants associated with the multicomponent decays. The component intensities each of the time constants was also significantly altered. For the PE sample, degassing caused a decrease in the time constants associated with the amorphous material in the molten polymer. Examination of the fastest relaxing component of the three component decay showed approximate invariance in the T₂ decay constant. This result supports our previously reported model in which that fast relaxing component is attributable to regions of local order or high segmental density within the molten polyethylene, a remnant of the crystalline material which exists in the premelting bulk polymer. The results of this research are of particular significance to those who wish to use this NMR technique as a quantitative method of determination of NMR distinct morphological regions within heterogeneous polymers. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Relation of the decay of free radicals in irradiated polyethylene to the molecular motion of the polymer and the configurations of the free radicals

Decay reactions of the free radicals produced in irradiated polyethylene (high-density and low-density materials) were examined in connection with the molecular motion of the matrix polymer. Three temperature regions, in which the free radicals decay very rapidly, at around 120, 200, and 250°K, were designated T_A, T_L, and T_B, respectively. The decay of the free radicals at these temperatures had activation energies in high-density polyethylene of 0.4 kcal/mole for T_A, 9.4 kcal/mole for T_L, and 18.4 kcal/mole for T_B. In low-density polyethylene these quantities were 0.7 kcal/mole for T_A, 23.1 kcal/mole for T_L, and 24.8 kcal/mole for T_B. Comparison of time constants for the decay reactions and for molecular motion of the matrix polymer indicate that the decay in T_A and T_B is closely related to molecular motion in the amorphous regions of the polymer. The decay of the free radicals at T_L in high-density polyethylene is due to molecular motion associated with local mode relaxation at lamellar surfaces, while that of low-density polyethylene is due to local mode relaxation in the completely amorphous region. Steric configurations of the free radicals which decay in the respective temperature regions were also investigated.     

1H NMR relaxation study of polymer-solvent interactions during thermotropic phase transition in aqueous solutions

The dynamic-structural changes and polymer - solvent interactions during the thermotropic phase transition in poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)/D₂O solutions in a broad range of polymer concentrations (c = 0.1-60 wt.-%) were studied combining the measurements of ¹H NMR spectra, spin-spin (T₂) and spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation times. Phase separation in solutions results in a marked line broadening of a major part of polymer segments, evidently due to the formation of compact globular-like structures. The minority (∼15%) mobile component, which does not participate in the phase separation, consists of low-molecular-weight fractions of PVME, as shown by GPC. Measurements of spin-spin relaxation times T₂ of PVME methylene protons have shown that globular structures are more compact in dilute solutions in comparison with semidilute solutions where globules probably contain a certain amount of water. A certain portion of water molecules bound at elevated temperatures to (in) PVME globular structures in semidilute and concentrated solutions was revealed from measurements of spin-spin and spin-lattice relaxation times of residual HDO molecules.     

Solid‐state NMR studies of cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene crosslinked with dicumyl peroxide in the presence of triallyl cyanurate

The network of dicumyl peroxide (DCP)/triallyl cyanurate (TAC) crosslinked cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene was studied by solid‐state NMR techniques such as direct‐polarization (DP), cross‐polarization (CP), and proton T₂ experiments. Line broadening and cis/trans isomerization of mobile carbons were observed in the DP experiments. The information on rigid carbons of network structures was observed with the CP technique. Motional heterogeneity was examined by proton T₂ relaxation experiments. Decreases in long T₂ (T_2L) values from the mobile non‐network structures and short T₂ (T_2S) values from the rigid network structures were observed with an increase in peroxide or coagent concentration. The percentage of T_2S in T₂ relaxation, which is related to network density, was observed to increase with peroxide and coagent addition. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1417–1423, 2000     

Identification of proton type in concentrated sweet solutions by pulsed NMR analysis

The spin-spin proton relaxation times T₂ of concentrated sucrose, maltose,D-glucose andL-proline solutions were determined using a Bruker Minispec NMR Spectrometer. Log spin echo amplitude decay curves were also determined and their non-linear nature allowed the proportions of different proton types to be calculated. These were in agreement with the theoretical proportions of ring (non-exchangeable protons), solute hydroxyl protons and water protons in the simple sugar molecules. A deuteration experiment confirmed that only non-exchangeable ring protons remained.     

FTIR spectroscopic and NMR studies of hard elastic polypropylene

The variation of amorphous orientation and crystalline regularity of hard elastic polypropylene (HEPP) films during cyclic deformation and stress relaxation processes were studied using a FTIR spectrometer. The result proves entropic elasticity and shows the orientational hysteresis in the amorphous region or within the microfibrils, and also shows that the amorphous orientation increases, but that the crystalline regularity decreases with the increase of extension rate.Three spin-spin relaxation timesT _2f,T _2m, andT _2s and associated mass fractionsF _f,F _m, andF _s of HEPP fibers were measured with a solid echo of NMR method at different elongations and after relaxation or recovery for a long time A new possible interpretation was proposed that, while the microfibrils are formed in HEPP, the medium decay component should be ascribed to inner molecules of the microfibrils, and the slow decay component to the surface molecules of the microfibrils. According to this interpretation, the results implied that subfibrillation is the main process when HEPP is stretched up to 15% strain, and that at above 15% strain thinning and lengthening of the microfibrils become the main process. Thickening of the microfibrils was found in the recovery and relaxation processes.     

含氟离聚体的多相结构及大分子链运动的NMR研究

 本文用¹³C自旋-自旋弛豫时间T₂表征了以丙烯酸-1,1,5-三氢全氟戊酯-丙烯酸共聚物为基础的离聚体体系的多相结构和大分子链段运动特性,结果表明:离子微区和聚合物基体之间存在界面层,聚合物主链的运动活性与离聚体的共聚物组成、金属离子特性、离子化程度、离子微区的稳定性和离子微区内的精细结构均有密切关系.     

Nuclear magnetic relaxation in polyolefin resins

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin–lattice relaxation times (T₁) in various polyethylene and polypropylene resins were measured at 20 MHz and at temperatures of 130–490 K. At each temperature and for all resins, only a single value of T₁ was found, which was consistent with the occurrence of rapid spin diffusion throughout the protons attached to the polymer chains. The data were analyzed for the estimation of activation energies corresponding to molecular motion causing spin–lattice relaxation. Two well‐defined minima were found for log_e(T₁) plotted as a function of temperature for all of the polypropylene resins. Single very broad minima were found for all of the polyethylene samples. In contrast, the free induction decay signals from all of the resins following single radio‐frequency pulses were observed to contain a rapidly decaying component followed by a much more slowly decaying signal. These components were used to estimate the amount of rigid component present in the solid resins at room temperature. Samples of one high‐density polyethylene and one low‐density polyethylene were irradiated with γ radiation up to a 500‐kGy dose to examine the effects of crosslinking on the NMR relaxation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 572–584, 2002; DOI 10.1002/polb.10116     

On the theory of the effective nuclear magnetic relaxation time T2e and its application to polymer melts

A general expression for the magnetization decay of a multipulse group is derived. This formula is applied to a three-component model of molecular motions in polymer melts. The influence of the several components on the magnetization decay is discussed. The relation of the effective nuclear magnetic relaxation time T_2e to the Anderson-Weiss formula is also shown, and an analytical expression for the transverse relaxation in melts is derived. Finally T_2e is compared with the relaxation time in the rotating frame T_1ρ in the melt. The theoretical results for T_2e are tested with measurements of frequency dependence in polyethylene melts.     

Wavelength-dependent Photodissociation Dynamics of Benzaldehyde

The ultrafast dynamics of benzaldehyde upon 260, 271, 284, and 287 nm excitations have been studied by femtosecond pinup-probe time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A bi-exponential decay component model was applied to fit the transient profiles of benzaldehyde ions and fragment ions. At the S2 origin, the first decay of the component was attributed to the internal conversion to the high vibrational levels of S1 state. Lifetimes of the first component decreased with increasing vibrational energy, due to the influence of high density of the vibrational levels. The second decay was assigned to the vibrational relaxation of the S1 whose lifetime was about 600 fs. Upon 287 nm excitation, the first decay became ultra-short （-56 fs） which was taken for the intersystem cross from S1 to T2, while the second decay component was attributed to the vibrational relaxation. The pump-probe transient of fragment was also studied with the different probe intensity at 284 nm pump.     

Pulsed NMR of cis-polyisoprene solutions T1 and T2 relaxations,free volume,viscosity relationships

Previous pulsed NMR studies of polyisoprene have largely been concerned with entangled or crosslinked networks. This paper deals with (i) the relaxation of high molecular weight entangled; (ii) cross-linked; (iii) monodisperse low molecular weight; and (iv) high molecular weight polymer in the presence of tetrachloroethylene which, by increasing molecular mobility, can be expected to influence the NMR relaxation. For all four types of polyisoprene, the spin-lattice T₁, relaxation shows a minimum with position depending only on the free volume, as influenced by changes in temperature T and polymer concentration v₁,. For monodisperse polyisoprene of molecular weight 7200, insufficient to form an entangled network, the spin-spin relaxation decay constant T_2L is quantitatively related to the free volume ₁ by two parameters A′ and B″ when the free volume is altered by a change in temperature, or in polymer concentration (10–100/). This can also be expressed in the form where the parameter T_∞ at 100% concentration agrees with the value used to describe rheological properties. At other concentrations of polymer, T_∞ and B′ can be derived quantitatively from the coefficients of volume expansion of polymer and solvent. The variation of T_2L with molecular weight (T_2L ∝ M^?0.5) occurs via the A′ parameter. It is concluded that T_2L can be quantitatively related to the free volume available for molecular motion (as influenced by temperature and solvent concentration) as well as to molecular weight. Furthermore T_2L is simply related to viscosity n, over a wide range of temperatures and concentrations. T₂ can be used to analyse the molecular motions involved in theology.     

Slow Magnetic Relaxation of Ni(III) Complexes toward Molecular Spin Qubits

Molecule-based magnetic materials are promising candidates for molecular spin qubits, which utilize spin relaxation behavior. Various kinds of transition metal complexes with S=1/2 have been reported to act as spin qubits with long spin-spin relaxation times (T₂). However, the spin qubit properties of low-spin Ni(III) complexes are not as well known since Ni(III) compounds are often unstable. We report here the slow magnetic relaxation behavior and T₂ values for three kinds of low-spin Ni(III) based complexes with S=1/2 under magnetically diluted conditions. [Ni(cyclam)X₂]Y (cyclam=1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) with octahedral structures and [Ni(mnt)₂]⁻ (mnt=maleonitriledithiolate) with a square-planar structure underwent slow magnetic relaxations in the presence of a dc magnetic bias field. From electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, the Ni(III) complexes exhibited observable T₂, indicating that Ni(III) complexes are promising candidates for use as molecule-based spin qubits.     

Investigation on the dynamics of aromatic polyesters by means of high resolution solid state CPMAS 13C NMR

The dynamics of amorphous aromatic polyesters consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(ethylene isophthalate) (PEI), and poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate) (PEN) has been investigated by means of solid state CPMAS ¹³C NMR. Proton T₂, ¹³C T_1ρ, and proton T_1ρ decays have been measured in particular, and the experimental data fitted to suitable model functions to determine best relaxation parameters. The fitting results show for proton T₂ and ¹³C T_1ρ measurements the presence of two components with different relaxation times and intensities, arising from different motional domains. The proton T_1ρ, on the contrary, shows a single component which limits the dimensions of the two regions to less than 20 Angstroms. The dependence of ¹³C T_1ρ values on two different irradiating field strengths (H₁ = 38 KHz, H₁ = 60 KHz) allowed the assignment of each component to relatively rigid and mobile regions. By comparing the three polymers we observe that PEN and PEI have a similar relaxation behavior, while a higher fraction of mobile components was found for PET. These differences are believed to arise mainly from local motions of the aromatic rings. The relaxation measurements have been evaluated to suggest a correspondence to O₂ and CO₂ gas permeabilities in PET, PEI, and PEN. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1557–1566, 1998     

Rotating frame proton spin-lattice relaxation measurements of poly(ethylene oxides)

Measurements of T_1ρ as a function of temperature have been made on three polyethylene oxides (PEO) with molecular weights of 550, 6000, and 2.8 × 10⁶ in order to try to elucidate various problems arising in the interpretation of previous T₁ measurements on PEO. In contrast to the T₁ measurements, the T_1ρ measurements show discontinuities at the melting or softening points of the respective polymers concerned, and also show nonexponential magnetization decay in the case of PEO 6000 and 2.8 × 10⁶, which is presumbly due to the existence of “mobile” and “crystalline” regions, in qualitative agreement with NMR studies and x-ray measurements. Motional correlation frequencies and activation energies have been derived where possible by using the BPP theory adapted to the rotating frame and also the strong collision Slichter-Ailion theory. There is reasonable correlation with other data on motional frequencies where it is available, although the overall situation for the so-called α transition in PEO 6000 and 2.8 × 10⁶ is still not clear. It is suggested that spin-diffusion is an important mechanism for all three polymers; for PEO 550 because it contains CH₃ endgroups which act as sinks, and for the other two polymers where the mobile fraction performs the same function.     

Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of liquids in swelling polymers

The variation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation parameters (T₁, T₂) within a polymer during swelling, limits the absolute accuracy with which liquid concentration profiles can be obtained using NMR imaging. In this article a study of the diffusion of decalin into ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is reported. The study illustrates the use of a method of analysis whereby quantitative solvent profiles can be obtained from data influenced by both T₁ and T₂ contrast effects. A T₁ and T₂ map are obtained at a point in the uptake of liquid where the greatest range in liquid concentration is obtained at a point in the uptake of liquid where the greatest range in liquid concentration is observed. The intensity of signal corresponding to liquid in the polymer is compared to that of pure liquid in a reference sample, and correlations for T₁ and T₂ values versus signal intensity are used to deconvolve relaxation contrast, to yield the true liquid concentration. The technique was used to study the effect of degree of crosslinking of UHMWPE on the swelling kinetics and decalin transport within the polymer. A spin-echo imaging technique was used with a recycle delay approximately equal to the average spin-lattice relaxation time of the liquid, and an echo time approximately half the average spin-spin relaxation time. Under these conditions the relaxation contrast was significant, yet the mass uptake data derived from the concentration profiles obtained, using the method of analysis described, agreed well with gravimetric data. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Unusual finite size effects in the Monte Carlo simulation of microphase formation of block copolymer melts

Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are presented for the Fried-Binder model of block copolymer melts, where polymer chains are represented as self and mutually avoiding walks on a simple cubic lattice, and monomer units of different kind (A, B) repel each other if they are nearest neighbors (ε_AB > 0). Choosing a chain length N = 20, vacancy concentration Φ_v = 0,2, composition ƒ = 3/4, and a L × L × L geometry with periodic boundary conditions and 8 ≤ L ≤ 32, finite size effects on the collective structure factor S(q) and the gyration radii are investigated. It is shown that already above the microphase separation transition, namely when the correlation length ξ(T) of concentration fluctuations becomes comparable with L, a nonmonotonic variation of both S(q) and the radii with L sets in. This variation is due to the fact that the wavelength λ^*(T) of the ordering (defined from the wavenumber q^* where S(q) is maximal at λ^* = 2 π/q^*) in general is incommensurable with the box. The competition of two nontrivial lengths ξ(T), λ^* (T) with L makes the straigthforward application of finite size scaling techniques impossible, unlike the case of polymer blends. Since also the specific heat is found to have a broad rounded peak near the transition only, locating the transition accurately from Monte Carlo simulations remains an unsolved problem.     

Effect of the repeated unit length of guest polymers on the molecular motion of polymer blends within a miscible window

The effect of the repeated unit length on the substantially increasing molecular motion and entropy change (?TΔS_m) of polymer blends was investigated with solid‐state ¹³C NMR and differential scanning calorimetry within a miscible window. The hydrogen‐bonding strength, from the formation of the phenolic–polyester interaction, was not high enough to overcome the breaking‐off of the self‐association of the phenolic. With respect to the increasing repeated unit length, the polyester resonance intensity of the solid‐state ¹³C NMR spectra was weakened because of the reduction in the cross‐polarization efficiency in highly mobile samples. The glass‐transition temperature of the blend and the proton spin–lattice relaxation time from NMR experiments were also reduced. The effect of the reduced hydrogen‐bonding strength on blending brought about a tendency of higher entropy (?TΔS_m) and higher molecular mobility of the blend. Accordingly, poly(decamethylene adipate) possessed the longest repeated unit length and exhibited the most mobile one in this phenolic/polyester blend family. The molecular segmental motion and entropy progressively increased while the repeated unit length of the guest polymers increased within a miscible window. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 679–686, 2003     

Effect of previous history on the NMR relaxation of polyethylene

The proton spin-spin (T₂) relaxation of linear polyethylene in the melt is shown to be dependent on the previous history of the specimen. Differences are observed between the granular (as supplied) and solution crystallized forms of the same material and they persist even after long periods in the melt. Possibilities such as molecular weight segregation and memory effects are investigated.     

Poly(p-xylene disulfide) and poly(p-xylene tetrasulfide): synthesis,cure and investigation of mechanical and thermophysical properties

Abstract

In this work, two polysulfide polymers were synthesized using aromatic organic monomer (α,α′-dichloro-p-xylene) and sodium disulfide (Na₂S₂) and sodium tetrasulfide (Na₂S₄) aqueous monomers. Then, the curing process of the polymers was carried out at 170° C using a rheometer. The structural characteristics of synthesized and cured samples were identified by Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies. Also, morphological and thermophysical properties of samples were studied by using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. Moreover, the molecular weight of the synthesized samples was determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). Furthermore, the mechanical properties and hardness of the samples were investigated by tensile test and Shore A. The results showed that in the noncured samples during the increase of sulfur in the polymer structure, solubility was increased whereas it decreased the hardness, melting point (T_m ) and glass transition temperature (T_g ) of polymers. But in cured samples, hardness and T_g increase by increasing sulfur and the mechanical properties also improved. This is due to the increase in crosslinks. Also, Tm and solubility are not observed due to the formation of crosslinks.     

Proton spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times in isotactic polypropylene—III. Effects of molecular weight

Proton spin-lattice (T₁) and spin-spin (T₂) relaxation times of isotactic polypropylene (molecular weights from 1.95 × 10⁵ to 1.78 × 10⁶) were measured at 40° using a wide line pulsed spectrometer operating at 19.8 MHz. Two series of samples with different thermal histories were prepared viz. a “melt-quenched sample” and an “annealed sample”. For all samples two T₁'s, the longer (T₁₁) and the shorter (T_1s), were observed. T₁₁ and T_1s decrease with increasing molecular weight. On the other hand, T_2a the longest T₂, associated with the most mobile amorphous region, increases with increasing molecular weight. The mass fraction of the rigid crystalline region decreases and those of the intermediate and mobile amorphous regions increase with increasing molecular weight. T₁₁ changes approximately linearly with the mass fraction of the crystalline region in the “melt-quenched sample”.