Time domain dielectric spectroscopy. A new effective tool for physical chemistry investigation

The general principles of time domain dielectric spectroscopy (TDS) are summarized. The methods of data treatment and presentation, and different TDS methods which enable one to obtain the permanent spectrum of ^* () in the frequency range of 10⁵–10¹⁰ are given. The examples of TDS application for the investigation of dielectric properties in samples of different nature and structure are considered in this review.     

Studies of polymer solvation by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy I: polyvinyl pyrrolidone in propylene carbonate,dimethyl sulfoxide and tetramethyl urea

The dielectric relaxation behavior of the title solutions of PVP 40000 is measured in the frequency domain (50 MHz to 36 GHz) at 20 °C. The polymer content of the solutions (up to 0.25 mole fraction of monomer units) is such that it does not yet contribute significantly to dielectric loss. The solvent relaxation shows in all cases a bulk and a slowed down contribution, both characterized by concentration-independent relaxation times. The slow contribution is ascribed to the solvate. Solvation numbers for dilute solutions roughly range between 2 and 4 per PVP repeat unit.     

Studies of polymer solvation by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy II: Polyethylene glycol in methyl pyrrolidone

Frequency domain dielectric spectroscopy (30 MHz to 72 GHz) is utilized to study solvation in polyethylene glycol (PEG) — methyl pyrrolidone (MPy) mixtures over the whole mixture range at 20 °C, in particular with PEG 200. Further pure PEGs (200 to 400) and butyl glycol (in the pure state and in benzene and n-hexane solution) are considered for comparison to facilitate the assessment of PEG relaxational behavior. It turns out that the PEG-MPy mixtures can be described in terms of a simple solvation model which takes into account only the bulk and the solvating solvent state. The solvation number per repeat unit is about 0.85 in the dilute solution limit. It decreases gradually with increasing PEG concentration in accordance with a solvation equilibrium model.     

Chain dynamic parameters for some acrylic polymers

The dielectric relaxation data of Ishida et al. on a number of acrylic polymers are represented in terms of the relaxation function proposed by Havriliak and Negami using the multi-response techniques developed by Havriliak and Watts. Two of the parameters of this function are interpreted in terms of a temperature dependent distribution of relaxation times. In this method of interpretation the breadth of the distribution function is temperature-dependent while the skewness is not. The temperature dependence of the breadth of the distribution function is similar for most of these acrylic polymers.The parameters of the relaxation function are also interpreted in terms of Mansfield's model which represents intra- and inter-molecular interactions in terms of springs and dash pots. Briefly, increasing the side chain length for the methacrylate series increases the inter-molecular relaxation time which may be due to an increase in the entropy of activation for the orientation process. The difference between the one acrylate in this study and the four methacrylates of the series is a reduction in the intra-molecular relaxation time, apparently due to the lack of the alpha methyl group.     

Dielectric relaxation in polymeric solids Part 1. A new model for the interpretation of the shape of the dielectric relaxation function

A model is proposed which explains the shape of the dielectric relaxation function at the glass transition of polymers. The model is based on the idea that the molecular mobility at the glass transition is controlled by intra- and intermolecular interaction. In addition, a specific model for the local chain dynamics in amorphous polymer systems is used. According to the scaling hypothesis of molecular dynamics the model relates the high frequency dependence of the dielectric loss curve to the local chain dynamics and the low frequency dependence to the intermolecular correlation.     

Study of the polymer latex coalescence by dielectric measurements at microwave frequency—feasibility of the method

The measurement of the complex dielectric constant ( ^*=–j) in the dipolar absorption domain of the free water molecule (microwave region) permits us to follow quasi-specifically and precisely the water circulation during the coalescence process of a latex. Weight losses and dielectric constants variations have been simultaneously recorded upon latex drying, in a resonant cavity at 5 and 9 GHz and under controlled atmosphere and temperature. Two different latexes were studied (polybutylacrylate (PBuA) and polystyrene (PS)) from which the glass transition temperature effect was investigated. It is found that the harder the polymer particles, the more clearly evidenced the flocculation and packing points are. This method appears to be quite reliable for discriminating the various steps in the film formation process of latexes.     

Dielectric relaxation of specially prepared polystyrene terminated with rigid polar groups

Two polystyrenes terminated withp-cyanobenzyl andp-cyanobiphenyl groups (=labels) were prepared and their complex dielectric constants were measured in the glass transition region in the frequency range 10^–2–10⁶ Hz. The glass temperaturesT _g (DSC) were considerably different, 92 and 97.5°C, resp., although their molecular weights were very similar (11 000 and 10 000 g/mol, resp.). Their relaxation behavior showed that the cyano groups relax cooperatively with the polymer segments. The cyanophenyl groups were found to relax with shorter relaxation times than the cyanobiphenyl groups. The measured relaxation strengths showed that there was no association between the dipoles. The relaxation mechanisms of the cyano groups in both labels seemed to be different although the only difference between them was an additional phenyl group in the case of the second label.     

Dielectric analysis of PMMA microcapsules containing an aqueous KCl solution to derive a distribution function of the release rate of KCl

Release of KCl from a batch of PMMA microcapsules containing an aqueous 3 mM KCl solution was studied with the following two methods: 1) dielectric measurements of suspensions of the microcapsules in distilled water. The electrical conductivity of capsule interior was estimated with this method. 2) Measurements of the conductivity of suspending medium of the microcapsule suspensions. These two kinds of experiments provided us with information about the amount of KCl remaining in the capsules and that diffused outside. Results of these experiments showed that the microcapsules varied in their release rate of KCl. A distribution function of the release rates was derived from the results of the dielectric measurements. That distribution function was successful in explaining the results of the measurements of the conductivity of suspending medium. Furrther examination revealed that the release rate increased with the increase in the thickness of capsule wall.     

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy on a discotic liquid crystalline polymer

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy is employed for the first time to study the molecular dynamics in discotic liquid crystalline polymers. One dielectric relaxation process is found which is strongly broadened and asymmetric. It is assigned a local hindered rotation of the ester groups attaching the spacer to the discotic mesogen. This assignment is supported by NMR measurements on the identical substance.Dedicated to Prof. E. W. Fischer on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Effects of uniaxial stretching and shrinkage on proton spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times of isotactic polypropylene

An isotactic polypropylene film was stretched at 120 °C in poly(ethylene glycol) and thermally shrunk at various temperatures. Proton spin-lattice,T ₁, and spin-spin,T ₂, relaxation times were measured using a broad line pulse spectrometer operating at 19.8 MHz in the temperature range 40 °C–100 °C. The temperature ofT ₁ minimum shifts to higher temperatures and the value ofT ₁ minimum increases in magnitude as the stretching ratio is increased. In contrast the temperature ofT ₁ minimum shifts to lower temperatures as shrinkage is increased, whereas the value ofT ₁ minimum increases in magnitude because of the increase in crystallimty during shrinkage. T_2a, the longestT ₁ associated with the mobile amorphous regions, increases during shrinkage, indicating that chain mobility in the amorphous regions increases substantially during shrinkage. It was found that an orientation function of the amorphous regions,f _a, correlates well withT _2a .Presented in part at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Chemical Society, Kyoto, April 1986.     

CPS K 221 Model of proton longitudinal magnetic relaxation in hydrated crosslinked poly(methacrylic acid)

Proton longitudinal magnetic relaxation time (T₁) measurements have been made at 30 MHz over a wide range of temperature for crosslinked poly(methacrylic acid), PMA, hydrated with H₂O as well as with D₂O. From the point of view of nuclear magnetic relaxation, PMA hydrogel is a multiregion system in which three proton regions (a, b, c) can be distinguished. Region a is regarded as to be formed by the nonexchangeable polymer protons, region b by the protons of -COOH · H₂O combinations, and region c by the protons of remaining water molecules. Cross relaxation between polymer and water protons and a log normal distribution of correlation times have been assumed to take place. Temperature dependences of the T₁ time for the particular regions have been determined, from which the distribution width parameter, the second moment and the intramolecular proton-proton distance for sorbed water have been calculated.     

Power law relaxation in an interpenetrating polymer network

Emulsion polymerized interpenetratingpolymer networks (IPN) of polyacrylate and polystyrene exhibit a power law relaxation over a wide frequency range. The response of the material to oscillatory shear, step sheaf strain and a constant stress can be described with a two parameter constitutive equation. The power law behavior was previously found in polymers at their critical state where molecular motions were correlated over large distances without intrinsic size or time scale.The effect of composition and crosslink density on the behavior of the material is studied. The behavior might be explained with the granular structure of the material.     

An interlayer model for the complex dielectric constant of composites

The complex dielectric constant of a composite with an interlayer was studied as a function of the volume fractions and the properties of the filler, the interlayer, and the matrix. The theoretical approach is analogous to the calculation of the shear modulus, the bulk modulus, and the termal expansivity of particulate filled polymers using the interlayer model (IM).An analytical expression describing the influence of an interlayer on the generalized dielectric constant of the composite as a function of the volume fraction and interlayer properties is derived.In the case of a composite with non-conductive constituents, the equations for static and oscillatory electric fields are similar. When conductive constituents are present, the complex dielectric constants have to be replaced by the generalized complex dielectric constants.For a composite of non-conductive materials, without interlayer, the obtained relation reduces to the classical Rayleigh equation. In the case of a composite with conductive constituents, also without interlayer, the complete solution of Wagner's theory is found. Special attention has been paid to the case of a water interlayer in a glass-bead filled non-conductive matrix material.     

Recent development in dielectric relaxation spectroscopy of polymers

An evaluation strategy for dielectric measurements in the frequency and/or time domain is presented which provides complete information about a relaxation mechanism (intensity, position, and shape of the relaxation function) independent of overlapping with neighboring mechanisms. As an example results on poly-(ethyleneterephthalate) are given.     

Theory of shear-induced crystallization of polymer melts

In the presented model elements of polymer melt rheology and polymer crystallization kinetics are combined. In particular, the proneness of the melt to the special type of crystallization which is characteristic for shear treatment is supposed to emerge only gradually during shear flow. Following Avrami's early ideas on crystal growth, an induction time is introduced. In principle, the model can be applied to any flow and temperature history. The special case of isothermal flow at constant shear rate is covered in greater detail: A favorable comparison is made with experimental results, as published by Lagasse and Maxwell [10].Dedicated to Prof. J. Meissner on the occasion for his 60th birthday.     

Theoretical study of dielectric behavior of microcapsule suspensions with distributed drug release rate

Theoretical consideration is made concerning the dielectric behavior of aqueous suspensions of W/O-type microcapsules containing aqueous electrolyte solutions, especially concerning distribution effects of the electrolyte release rate on the dielectric behavior.It is shown at first that the distribution of the release rate causes electrical conductivity of the capsule interior. Next, it is deduced, in the light of a theory of the interfacial polarization, that the distribution characteristics of the capsule interior's electrical conductivity are closely related to those of the relaxation time for a dielectric relaxation exhibited by the suspensions. Several formulas are derived to describe the relation between the distribution characteristics of the release rate and those of the relaxation time.     

Comment on the “dielectric properties of LDPE/Ny6 blends”

Data published by La Mantia et al. [1] on dielectric dispersion and loss in polyethylene/nylon 6 blends are analyzed in terms of dielectric mixture formulae. It is shown that an ohmic interfacial polarization process can not be responsible for the unexpected increase of and values observed in these blends at high temperatures. The observed phenomena are tentatively attributed to space charge processes at the electrodes or to other defects dipole mechanisms.     

Phase behavior and elastic properties of a slightly crosslinked liquid crystalline main-chain polymer

A liquid crystalline main-chain polymer was slightly crosslinked by a reaction with, -difunctionalized oligo-siloxanes. Crosslinking does not disturb the liquid crystalline phases, which are identified by x-ray measurements as smecticB and smecticA phases. Measurements of the elastic properties of the crosslinked sample show rubber-like elasticity, even in the liquid crystalline phases. A difference of 7 K was found between cooling and heating for the smecticA/isotropic transition from DSC and mechanical measurements.     

The effect of segment length and concentration on dielectric properties of polypropyleneoxide-based polyurethanes

Three series of segmented polyurethanes based on MDI, variable chain extender, and polypropylene oxide of MW=1000, 2000, and 3000 were synthesized and their dielectric behavior examined.Dielectric relaxations in the segmented polyurethanes were investigated between –150°C and +150°C in the 100 Hz to 10 kHz range. In general, three transitions, designated as, , and were observed, and ascribed in accordance with calorimetric relaxations to glass transitions of the hard and soft segments, and Shatzki-type motions, respectively. The effect of structure variables such as soft segment size, type of chain extender (ethylene glycol, butane diol, and hexane diol) and soft segment concentration, as well as the effect of interaction of the phases on dielectric properties was discussed. It was found that a certain degree of phase mixing exists in all series, detected by the variation of theT _g of the soft segment with soft segment concentration, contrary to DSC results, which was ascribed to thermal treatment prior to the dielectric measurements. It appears that interfacial polarization becomes important only above the transition temperature.     

On the observation of micellar structures by dielectric spectroscopy

Many cationic surfactants form, in the presence of certain organic acids, large supramolecular micellar structures in water. The dielectric response of one such system (cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide-salicylic acid, CTMAS) has been studied as a function of frequency, concentration and temperature. The results are compared with dynamic mechanical data on the same system, which has been published in the literature.The dielectric response shows that the micelles form a rigid, open network structure, which does not impede ionic transport in the bulk liquid. However, the response also shows the presence of a frequency dispersive barrier capacitance. From the variation of the properties of this capacitance with CTMAS concentration and applied voltage over a range of frequencies, it is deduced that the barrier originates in an ordered micelle structure at each electrode.