Determination of atomic stress distribution in stressed polymers by infrared spectroscopy

An attempt was made to evaluate stresses on chemical bonds in axially stressed polymers from the shift of skeletal vibration frequencies in chain molecules. The maximum stress on chemical bonds was found to be at least ten times the average stress on the specimen.     

Mechanisms of frequency shifting in the infrared spectrum of stressed polymer

In the vibrational spectrum of a polymer obtained under tensile stress loading conditions, several modes of molecular deformation can lead to different mechanisms of frequency shifting and asymmetric band deformation. Theoretically and experimentally it has been observed that quasielastic deformations (reduction of force constants due to bond weakening under stress), pure elastic bond stretching and angle bending, conformational variations, and several types of chain defects can cause linear shifts in frequency and infrared band distortion. A detailed study of the deformation spectra of isotactic polypropylene and polyphenyl-p-sulfide indicated that quasielastic and elastic mechanisms are the major contributors to frequency shifting, principally affecting stretching and bending vibrational modes. Conformational mechanisms can affect torsional modes whereas the defect mechanism, when present, can cause random distortion of an infrared band. The latter mechanism is difficult to quantize. The extent to which each mechanism contributes to the total spectral deformation can be a function of morphology, macroscopic loading conditions, thermal and strain histories.     

Mechanism of submicrocrack generation in stressed polymers

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

Memory effects in the NMR frequency shifts

The narrowing of the heat-bath correlation function by decreasing the sample temperature in a molecular system with a cooperative motion, causes the shifting of the NMR resonance frequency, as predicted by the memory-function approach.     

Unexpected frequency shifts and linewidth changes for rovibrational lines in the infrared emission spectra of CO2 excited by active nitrogen

Fourier transform emission spectra from flowing CO₂ excited by active nitrogen have been recorded in the 4.5 μm region, with a resolution of 0.0054 cm⁻¹, for different time intervals between the mixing of the two gases and observation of the emission. Significant frequency shifts (reaching 30 times the absolute uncertainty of the experimental frequencies) and linewidth changes are observed depending on the time interval and the value of the quantum number v₃, for thousands of rovibrational lines belonging to v₁v¹₂v₃ → v₁v¹₂(v₃-1) vibrational transitions.     

j-dependent pressure shifts in infrared and Raman spectra

A recently proposed explanation for first-order j-dependent infrared and Raman line shifts within the classical-path impact theory is shown to be incorrect. A correct method of calculating the shift is discussed.     

Space-resolved low frequency dynamics in entangled polymers

A T_1ρ filter for the NMR imaging of solid polymers is presented. T_1ρ is the relaxation time in the rotating frame, which is sensitive to the molecular motion and whose spectral density falls in the range of slow dynamics, namely motion characterized by correlation times ranging between 10⁻² and 10⁻⁵ s. The method allows one to obtain a good spatial resolution without the need of strong field gradients and without the effects related to the spatial encoding manipulation of the spin system.     

Sizable concentration-dependent frequency shifts in solution NMR using sensitive probes

With the growing use of high fields and ultrasensitive probes, radiation damping emerges as a significant feedback interaction in modern solution NMR. Motivated by recent observations of mysterious concentration-dependent frequency shifts, experiments carried out on a cryoprobe at 600 MHz have revealed a time-averaged frequency shift of up to +83/-81 Hz. The sizable frequency shifts arise from deviations in the phase of the radiation damping field from perfect orthogonality relative to the net transverse magnetization. The frequency shift is shown to depend on the longitudinal magnetization and probe tuning conditions through experiments and numerical simulations. Such unexpected shifts in the solvent precession frequency provide a physical explanation for the empirical practice of adjusting the irradiation frequency of the saturating B1 field in solvent presaturation to achieve optimal suppression. Additional applications of the radiation damping induced frequency shift to solvent suppression and NMR methodology are discussed.     

Theoretical determination of the infrared spectra of amorphous polymers

The simple procedure of calculating the infrared spectra of polymers is presented. It is based on selecting the relevant, medium-size representative fragments of a polymer, for which the vibrational frequencies are computed within the harmonic approximation, in conjunction with the multiparameter scaling techniques. Scaling is necessary to predict the reliable fundamentals, which, along with the calculated intensities and properly chosen band widths, reproduce the observed band shapes with high accuracy. Applications to the three polymers: poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl acetate), and poly(isopropenyl acetate) are presented. The simulated spectra are in good agreement with the experiment. The assignment of bands is reported. The obtained results indicate strong delocalization of the vibrational modes within polymers, which is in accord with the most recent experimental finding [Macromolecules2008, 41, 2494-2501]. Good agreement between the observed and the calculated spectra of deuterated PMMA confirms the correctness of our approach. The preliminary results obtained for the highly irregular macromolecular compound (vinyl-functionalized silica) are also shown.     

Influence of defects on the infrared spectra of polymers

For an infinitely repeated regular polymer chain structure the only vibrations which are optically active are those in which the phase of the motion is the same in each unit (the factor-group modes). Frequencies for which the phase difference is nonzero are optically inactive but can become activated by the presence of defects in the chain. Such defects would normally be chemical impurities or conformational irregularities in the chain. A simple theory is developed which shows that for a dilute system of defects the major characteristics determining possible activation of the nonfactor-group modes are: (1) the strength of the coupling between the defect vibration and the vibrations of the neighboring chain, and (2) whether or not the natural frequency of the defect vibration lies inside a lattice band of the regular chain. An analysis of the low- and high-frequency regions of the spectrum of low-density polyethylene, based on the above considerations, indicates that several features of the spectrum can be associated with defect-induced absorption. A similar explanation can account for certain intensity changes in the C? Cl stretching region of syndiotactic poly(vinyl chloroide) when this polymer is submitted to mechanical treatment.     

Perturbation approach for frequency shifts in IR spectra of molecular clusters

A second order perturbation approach for the evaluation of the splitting and shifting of the infrared vibrational bands of molecular clusters, based on early publications of Buckingham, is presented. The Hamiltonian of the system comprises harmonic- and anharmonic intramolecular vibration terms, as well as the intermolecular potential. The anharmonic contributions of the intramolecular force field and the intermolecular potential are treated as a perturbation. In order to extend the applicability of the approach to homogeneous molecular clusters, the formalism of degenerate perturbation theory is employed. The new approach is applied to methanol clusters from dimer to hexamer for calculating the frequency shifts of the OH stretching mode (ω₁=3681.5 cm^?1), the CH₃ rocking mode (ω₇=1074.5 cm^?1), and the CO stretching mode (ω₈=1033.5 cm^?1). The numerical results compare favourably with experimental and previous theoretical data (except for ω₁), but with a tendency to overestimate the shifts.     

Anharmonic calculation of bandwidths and frequency shifts in crystalline CO2

The bandwidths and the anharmonic frequency shifts of the optical lattice phonons of crystalline CO₂ are calculated as a function of temperature using three different intermolecular potentials. A previously available potential (MOSMD) which reproduces correctly the structure, energy and harmonic frequencies of the CO₂ crystal provides anharmonic, calculated bandwidths about 10 times larger than the experimental values. An improved potential (PRC-1) is obtained by moving inside the OC bonds the oxygen interaction center and by increasing the molecular quadrupole. This potential predicts bandwidths and shifts of the right order of magnitude but still too large. The third potential (PRC-2) is obtained from the previous one by using a non-collinear distribution of negative charges. The negative charges are localized on exagons around the OC bond at a distance d = 0.3 Å. This potential reproduces correctly the experimental bandwidths and yields small anharmonic shifts. The temperature dependence of the bandwidths and shifts is correctly reproduced in terms of three-phonon decay processes for the T⁺_g and for the T⁻_g phonons. In the case of the E_g phonon four-phonon processes are required in order to fit the experimental data.     

Simultaneous measurements of stress and infrared dichroism on polymers

Summary A method for simultaneous measurements of stress and infrared dichroism as time-dependent behavior of polymer films was devised by using a double beam infrared spectrometer. The film sample held between clamps of a stretching device was placed just in front of the entrance slit of the spectrometer where the sample and reference beams came alternately. Two polarizers were used, one in the sample beam and the other in the reference beam. Thus the sample and reference beams were polarized to have the electric vectors parallel and perpendicular to the stretching direction of the sample, respectively. With this arrangement the spectrometer responded only to the difference in the transmittance of the two beams. Setting the spectrometer at one of the wavenumbers of the absorption band maxima, we could record continuously the change in its dichroism during mechanical treatments which gave rise to the molecular orientation in the sample. The stress was recorded automatically by means of a couple of strain gages pasted on the cantilever beam of the stretching device.By theoretical considerations, a simple relationship was found to exist between the quantity recorded on the spectrometer by this method and the orientation function of transition moment of a vibrational absorption band with respect to the stretching direction.The method was applied to the stress relaxation experiments of vulcanized natural rubber carried out at different elongations less than 600% and at the room temperature. Changes of infrared dichroism were measured for five absorption bands at 1664, 1380, 1361, 1129, and 844 cm^–1, of which the last one is a crystalline band. From the results of this study, it was concluded that the stress relaxation observed was ascribed mainly to the amorphous orientation rather than to the crystalline orientation, which was completed almost immediately after elongation.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Methode für gleichzeitige Messungen von Spannungs-und Infrarot-Dichroismus von Polymerenfolien in AbhÄngigkeit von der Zeit wurde unter Verwendung eines Zweistrahlen-Infrarotspektrometers entwickelt. Die Filmproben, zwischen Klemmen in einer Verstreckungsanordnung gehalten, sind am Ort des Eintrittsspaltes des Spektrometers justiert, an dem der die Probe durchlaufende und der Referenzstrahl alternierend eintreten. Zwei Polarisationen, eine im Probestrahl, die andere im Referenzstrahl, wurden verwendet. So sind der Probe-und Referenzstrahl mit dem elektrischen Vektor parallel bzw. senkrecht zur Streckrichtung der Probe polarisiert. Mit dieser Anordnung am Spektrometer wird nur die Differenz der DurchlÄssigkeit der Probe für beide Strahlen gemessen. Wenn man das Spektrometer auf die Wellenzahl eines Absorptionsmaximums der Probe einstellt, lÄ\t sich also kontinuierlich unmittelbar die Änderung des Dichroismus wÄhrend der mechanischen Verformung verfolgen, die aus molekularer Orientierung in der Probe resultiert. Die Spannung wurde automatisch mit Hilfe von Verlagerungsaufnehmern aufgezeichnet.Theoretische Betrachtungen lassen eine einfache Beziehung zwischen den Spektrometerkurven und der Orientierungsfunktion für die verschiedenen Absorptionsbanden in Bezug auf die Streckrichtung finden.Die Methode wurde auf Spannungsrelaxation in vulkanisiertem Naturkautschuk für verschiedene Strekkungen kleiner als 600% bei Raumtemperatur angewendet. Die Messungen der Änderung des InfrarotDichroismus fanden für die 5 Absorptionsbanden bei 1664, 1380, 1361, 1129 und 844 cm^–1 statt, wobei die letztere eine kristalline Bande ist. Aus den Ergebnissen wird geschlossen, da\ die beobachtete Spannungsrelaxation in der Hauptsache Orientierung im Amorphen und nicht einer Kristallit-Orientierung zuzuordnen ist. Letztere ist offensichtlich schon unmittelbar nach der Streckung fast vollstÄndig ausgebildet.

     

Rheo-optical Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of polymers

Rheo-optical FTIR spectroscopy has been applied to monitor the onset, progress and decay of strain-induced crystallization in loading-unloading cycles of sulfur-crosslinked natural rubber at 300 K and 343 K. From the short-time spectroscopic data conclusions were also drawn with respect to the orientation of the average polymer and the polymer chains in the strain-induced crystal phase.     

Simultaneous measurements of stress and infrared dichroism on polymers

Summary In order to obtain informations on the molecular nature and mechanism of rheological processes on polymers, simultaneous measurements of stress and infrared dichroism were made of polychloroprene (Neoprene Type AC) films during the course of continuous elongation at the constant rate 25%/min and of stress relaxation at 400% elongation. The time dependence of the infrared dichroism was obtained by measuring the intensity change at fixed wavenumbers of absorption band maxima on the differential polarized infrared spectra. Both the degree of crystallinity of sample films and the orientation function of transition moments were calculated from the results of the infrared dichroic measurements under the assumption of uniaxial orientation, which was confirmed to be the case by X-ray diffraction and birefringence measurements.In the continuous elongation experiments, it was found that the orientation functions for crystalline-sensitive bands showed maxima at 25% elongation and then decreased rapidly, changing their signs from positive to negative. There also appeared the yield point in the stress-strain curve and the beginning of sharp decrease of crystallinity at the same degree of elongation 25%. These facts were interpreted in terms of the orientation of the crystalline phase followed by the degradation of crystallites and drawing out of the molecular chain from the crystallites. In the stress relaxation experiments, moderate changes in the orientation functions were found for various characteristic absorption bands. Little difference was observed between changes in the orientation functions for the amorphous and crystalline-sensitive bands. This makes a contrast with the previous results for vulcanized natural rubber, where the orientation of the crystalline phase was completed almost immediately after elongation, while in the amorphous phase the molecular chains were oriented gradually during the course of stress relaxation.

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Zusammenfassung Um Informationen über die molekulare Natur und den Mechanismus rheologischer Prozesse von Polymeren zu erhalten, wurden gleichzeitige Messungen der Spannung und des Infrarot-Dichroismus an Polychloropren-Filmen (Typ AC-Neopren) während der kontinuierlichen Verstreckung bei konstanter Verstreckungsgeschwindigkeit von 25%/min und während der Spannungsrelaxation bei 400% Verlängerung durchgeführt. Die Zeitabhängigkeit des Infrarot-Dichroismus wurde aus der Intensitätsänderung im festen Wellenzahlbandmaximum eines Kristallisationsbandes mit einem differenz-polarisierten Infrarot-Spektrographen festgestellt. Beide, der Kristallanteil der Probe und die Orientierungsfunktion für die Übergangsmomente lassen sich aus den Resultaten unter Annahme einachsiger Orientierung auswerten. Letztere, die einachsige Orientierung, wurde mit Röntgenbeugung und Doppelbrechung sichergestellt.In den Experimenten mit kontinuierlicher Verlängerung zeigten die Orientierungsfunktionen der Kristallempfindlichen Banden bei 25% Verlängerung ein Maximum. Danach sanken sie rasch unter Wechsel ihres Vorzeichens von positiv nach negativ ab. Der Fließpunkt in der Spannungs-Dehnungs-Kurve und der Beginn des scharfen Abfalls der Kristallinität zeigen sich vom gleichen Verlängerungsgrad 25% ab.Diese Tatsachen werden aufgrund der Orientierung der kristallinen Phase erklärt, gefolgt von einem Abbau der Kristallite und einem Herausziehen der Molekülketten aus den Kristalliten. In den Spannungsrelaxationsversuchen wurden gewisse Änderungen der Orientierungsfunktionen für die verschiedenen charakteristischen Absorptionsbanden gefunden. Es ergaben sich geringe Differenzen in der Änderung der Orientierungsfunktionen für die amorphen und kristallempfindlichen Banden. Das steht im Gegensatz zu früheren Resultaten an vulkanisiertem Naturkautschuk. Bei letzteren war die Orientierung der Kristallphase beinahe unmittelbar nach der Dehnung vollständig, während in der amorphen Phase die molekularen Ketten nach und nach im Laufe der Spannungsrelaxation orientiert wurden.

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With 8 figures in 9 details and 1 table     

Charge transfer and OH vibrational frequency red shifts in nitrate-water clusters

A theoretical study of charge transfer (CT) characteristics in nitrate (NO3(-)) anion-water complexes is presented, together with those for the halides, F-, Cl-, and Br-, for comparison. The relation between the vibrational frequency red shifts of the hydrogen (H)-bonded OH stretches and CT from the anion to the water molecule, established in previous work for the one-water complexes of the halides, is studied for both the one- and six-water nitrate complexes and is extended to the six-water case for the halides. In NO3(-) x H2O, the water molecule receives about as much charge as that in Br- x H2O. In a result consistent with aqueous phase infrared experiments [Bergstr?m, P. A.; Lindgren, J.; Kristiansson, O. J. Phys. Chem. 1991, 95, 8575-8580], the CT and OH red shift in NO3(-) x 6 H2O are found to be smaller than those for all of the six-water halide complexes, despite the presence of three H-bonding sites. The inability of the nitrate anion to effect substantial CT lies in the preservation of the pi-system being energetically favored over charge localization and enhancement of the strengths of the multiple H-bonds.     

Structures, energetics and vibrational frequency shifts of hydrated pyrimidine

More than 70 unique micro-hydrated structures of pyrimidine, ranging in size from 1 to 7 water molecules, have been characterized with the B3LYP density functional and the 6-311++G(2df,2pd) triple-ζ split-valence basis set. Explicitly correlated MP2-F12 single-point computations were performed on each structure with a correlation consistent triple-ζ basis set to estimate the relative and dissociation energies at the MP2 complete basis set (CBS) limit. Many of these new structures have significantly lower energies than those previously reported (by as much as 12.66 kcal?mol(-1)). For clusters with 1 and 2 water molecules, the MP2-F12 relative and dissociation energies are virtually identical to the corresponding CCSD(T)-F12 values. As the number of hydrating waters increases, the structures in which the water molecules are clustered together at one of the N atoms have lower energies than those where the water molecules are more distributed around the pyrimidine ring. Micro-hydrated structures that effectively extend the low-energy hydrogen-bonding motifs to both sides of the ring, as would be expected in the bulk phase, reproduce the experimentally observed vibrational frequency shifts of ν(1) and ν(8b) in very dilute aqueous pyrimidine solutions to within 1 cm(-1) . Micro-hydrated structures of pyrimidine in which water molecules are clustered together have lower energies than structures in which the water molecules are more evenly spread around the pyrimidine ring.