Quantitative Conformational Studies on Poly(vinyl Chloride)

Although curve fitting provides a method for obtaining intensity data for the individual components of overlapping band systems, the number of configurational and conformational bands in the C-Cl stretching region of the vibrational spectrum of poly(vinyl chloride) is such that many parameters have to be optimized. It is therefore desirable to impose constraints in the calculations, and prior knowledge of the number of component bands would be valuable. The potential of derivative spectroscopy for obtaining this information has been examined. It is shown that the superior resolution of second and fourth derivative spectra is partially offset by their inferior signal-to-noise ratio, a discriminatory effect against broader bands, and interference by subsidiary derivative peaks. The method has been used to examine the CH₂ deformation and C-Cl stretching modes of three PVC samples of different tacticity. With the former the overlapping system proves to be more complex than hitherto realized; hence, tacticity determinations based on the intensity ratio of two peaks only at 1428 and 1434 cm^?1 must be suspect. With the C-Cl stretching bands second derivatives are more useful than fourth derivatives, and the number and positions of the located bands are in broad agreement with the results from curve fitting, so providing confirmatory evidence for the correctness of the latter.     

Comparison of x-ray diffraction and thermal analysis methods for assessing order in poly(vinyl chloride)

Thermal analysis and wide-angle x-ray diffraction were used to assess the crystallinity for a series of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) samples, and the use of two complementary techniques was found beneficial. Two polymers were studied; a commercial suspension grade PVC, and an experimental grade of higher syndiotacticity. Both were examined as powders, and after processing. All samples were also examined after heat treatment at various temperatures between 100 and 175°C. Annealing the suspension grade of PVC appeared to cause a small change in total crystallinity, but little change in crystallite size. When the low temperature powder was annealed, some increase in crystallinity was detected. However, when this polymer was milled, there was a significant increase in crystallite size, and crystallinity seemed to increase further. Particularly noticeable was the increase in the amount of high melting crystallites.     

Local microstructure dependence of PVC interaction with solvents. A FTIR verification

The occurrence of local configuration based PVC-solvent interactions, specifically, is demonstrated by studying, first, the changes in FTIR frequency of both the solvent carbonyl band and the PVC C-Cl stretching bands with the composition of PVC-solvent mixtures; and, secondly, the FTIR dichroic behaviour of the same bands upon stretching PVC films containing traces of solvent. The latter turns out to be an original path to investigate polymer interactions.     

Physical characterisation of amylopectin gels

Amylopectin is a highly and non-randomly branched polysaccharide and is one of the two main components of starch. Aqueous amylopectin solutions of sufficiently high concentration can form physically crosslinked thermoreversible gels upon cooling to below room temperature. We present a detailed investigation into the rheology of these gels and establish the relationship between gel modulus and concentration; this is fitted with the model of Clark and Ross-Murphy. Amylopectin gelation is accompanied by the development of crystallinity. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and novel time-resolved Wide Angle X-ray Scattering measurements using synchrotron radiation indicate that the DSC gel melting endotherm provides a measurement of the degree and perfection of the crystallinity in the gel. For gels stored at 4 °C, the crystallinity covered a wide range of perfection and part of the contribution to the growth in the melting endotherm was the result of the formation of a disproportionate number of poorer, less perfect crystallites. Annealing amylopectin gels below their peak melting temperature, following storage at 4 °C increased the perfection of the crystallinity by melting out the poorest crystallites, causing the gels to melt at a higher temperature and over a narrower range.     

Thermal and shrinkage behaviour of stretched peroxide-crosslinked high-density polyethylene

The thermal shrinkage of stretched crosslinked high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was investigated with the aim to produce heat shrinkable materials. The heat shrinkable property was achieved by a process of heating-stretching-cooling by aid of tensile machine on crosslinked HDPE obtained by compounding with various amount of peroxide. Effect of stretching ratio and stretching temperature on thermal and shrinkage behaviour at varying peroxide contents was investigated. The results showed that crosslinking hindered the crystallization process by decreasing the melting and crystallization temperatures as well as the total degree of crystallinity. The stretching ratio had no significant effect on shrink temperature but rather on ultimate shrinkage. The stretching temperature had relatively significant influence on the shrink temperature. Crosslinked HDPE stretched at above melting point (140 °C) had higher shrink temperature as compared to those stretched at lower temperature (90 °C). These effects could be reasonably explained by Hoffman theory and changes in crystallites size and total amount of crystallinity.     

聚合温度对聚氯乙烯树脂结构和性能的影响

采用凝胶渗透色谱法、¹³H NMR和DSC法测定了悬浮聚合PVC树脂的平均分子量、间规度、结晶度和玻璃化温度.结果表明:聚合温度下降,PVC的平均分子量上升,分子量的对数值与聚合温度的倒数成正比;PVC的间规度和结晶度均增大,在形成结晶的间规链段的最短长度(ξ_min)为6时,由间规度计算的结晶度理论值与测定值接近;分子量和结晶度增加的共同作用,使PVC的玻璃化转变温度上升.     

NMR and x-ray studies on the morphology of thermoreversible polyacrylonitrile gels

The morphology of thermoreversible polyacrylonitrile–propylene carbonate (PAN-PC) gels was examined using solid-state carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. Following complete dissolution of the polymer at elevated temperature and cooling of the concentrated PAN-PC solutions, a gel was formed. The PAN-PC gels consisted of regions of mobile polymer chains, rich in PC, “cross-linked” by regions of rigid polymer. The mobile regions of the gels showed solution-type NMR spectra with resolution of tacticity effects. The rigid component detected by NMR would correspond to the crysttallites detected previously by x-ray diffraction. Wide-angle x-ray diffractograms of the gels showed different peaks when compared with the dry polymer powder. After solvent extraction and drying of the gel, the diffractogram reverted to that of the original dry powder. This new result is the strongest evidence to support the view advanced earlier that the new peaks found in the diffraction pattern of the wet gels arises from solvated polymer crystallites rather than from ordinary polymer crystallites. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The elongation and time dependence of the crystallinity of low-density polyethylene

It has been presumed in studies of the orientation of low-density polyethylene and its time dependence that the degree of crystallinity remained constant with elongation and did not vary with time following elongation. This paper represents a test of this hypothesis by several methods. The change in crystallinity accompanying stretching has been followed by a modification of an x-ray method for uniaxial orientation proposed by Ruland in which diffraction peaks are resolved into crystalline and amorphous components and their respective areas are determined by two-dimensional integration over both the Bragg angle and the azimuthal angle of diffraction. The weight-fraction crystallinity is then determined from the ratio of the weighted crystalline area to the total area. There appears to be no significant variation in crystallinity up to 50% sample elongation for both slowly and rapidly stretched samples at room temperature. The dynamic crystallinity change accompanying small amplitude vibration has also been determined by the dynamic x-ray diffraction technique and found to be negligible over a wide range of frequency. The degree of crystallinity has also been evaluated from the absolute infrared absorbance of crystallinity-sensitive bands and has also been found to be independent of elongation at room temperature up to 80% elongation. Changes have also been observed by this method during relaxation at constant length following rapid extension and have also been found to be negligible. These results also indicate negligible changes in rotational isomer population. Consequently, we conclude that changes observed during relaxation and vibration arise from orientational changes rather than changes in the degree of crystallinity.     

用X射线衍射分峰法研究固相热处理对聚苯硫醚结晶行为的影响

本文应用电子计算机对固相热处理的聚苯硫醚(PPS)粉末的X射线衍射图谱进行分峰处理。结果表明,固相热处理使PPS粉末的结晶度下降,同时其平均晶粒体积和垂直于分子链轴方向的晶粒基平面面积增大。与热分析的结果对比,讨论了PPS在固相热处理过程中所发生的物理与化学过程。     

Structural Perturbations in the Solid-Water Interface of Redox Transformed Nontronite

Redox reactions of structural Fe affect many surface and colloidal properties of Fe-containing smectites in natural environments and many industrial systems, but few studies have examined the clay-water interface under oxidizing and reducing conditions. Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the effects of structural Fe oxidation state and hydration on layer Si-O stretching vibrations in Na-nontronite. Aqueous gels of unaltered, reduced, and reoxidized smectites were equilibrated at different swelling pressures, Pi, and water contents, m(w)/m(c), using a miniature pressure-membrane apparatus. One part of each gel was used for the gravimetric determination of m(w)/m(c); the other was transferred to an attenuated total reflectance cell in the FTIR spectrometer, where the spectrum of the gel was measured. The frequencies of four component peaks of Si-O stretching, nu(Si-O), in nontronite layers and of the H-O-H bending, nu(H-O-H), in the interlayer water were determined by using a curve-fitting technique. Reduction of structural Fe shifted the Si-O vibration to lower frequency and desensitized the Si-O vibration to the hydration state. A linear relation was found between nu(Si-O) and nu(H-O-H) for nontronite in each of its various oxidation states. These observations were interpreted to mean that structural Fe oxidation state has a significant impact on interfacial processes of the aqueous colloid system of Fe-rich phyllosilicates. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

半晶聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯中的受限非晶相

当半晶聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯 (PET)的结晶度 (Xwc)处于一定范围内时 ,其物理老化后在差示扫描量热(DSC)曲线上的玻璃化转变区有吸热双峰出现 .通过对此吸热双峰分别与完全非晶试样和具有相当高Xwc 的半晶试样物理老化后在DSC曲线上出现的吸热单峰的比较 ,表明半晶PET中存在两种性质极为不同的非晶区 ,即自由非晶区和受限非晶区 .动态力学热分析 (DMTA)曲线上显示的损耗正切 (tanδ)双峰进一步证实了这两种不同非晶区的存在 .这两种不同非晶区的产生是由于试样中晶粒对非晶相中高分子链段活动性的不同限制作用所致 .研究发现 ,对于由冷结晶得到的半晶试样来说 ,出现两种不同非晶区所需的Xwc 上下限都随结晶温度 (Tc)的升高而增高 .还发现 ,在物理老化过程中 ,虽然非晶相的总量基本保持不变 ,但部分自由非晶区却逐渐转变为受限非晶区 .上述实验结果很好地符合Struik的“扩展玻璃化转变”模型 .     

Molecular orientation behavior of poly(vinyl chloride) as influenced by the nanoparticles and plasticizer during uniaxial film stretching in the rubbery stage

The structural evolution during uniaxial stretching of poly(vinyl chloride) films was studied using our real time spectral birefringence stretching machine. The effect of clay loading and the amount of plasticizer as well as the rate effects on the birefringence development and true mechanical response are presented with a final model summarizing the molecular phenomena during stretching. Mechano‐optical studies revealed that birefringence correlated with mechanical response (stress, strain, work) nonlinearly. This was primarily attributed to the preexisting strong network of largely amorphous chains connected via small crystallites that act as physical crosslinking points. These crystallites are not easily destroyed during the high‐speed stretching process as evidenced from the birefringence–true strain curves along with the X‐ray crystallinity measurements. At high speeds, the amorphous chains do not have enough time to relax and hence attain higher orientation levels. The crystallites, however, orient more efficiently when stretched at slow speeds. Apparently, some relaxation of the surrounding amorphous chains helps rotate the crystallites in the stretching direction. Overall birefringence is higher at high stretching speeds for a given true strain value. When the nanoparticles are incorporated, the orientation levels are increased significantly for both the crystalline and amorphous phases. Nanoplatelets increase the continuity of the network because they have strong interaction with the amorphous chains and/or crystallites. This in turn helps transfer the local stresses to the attached chains and increase the orientation levels of the chains. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 724–742, 2005     

Plasticiser interactions with polymer and salt in PVC-LiCF3SO3-DMF electrolytes

The IR spectra of pure DMF, LiCF₃SO₃, PVC, PVC-LiCF₃SO₃, LiCF₃SO₃-DMF, PVC-DMF and PVC-LiCF₃SO₃-DMF have been studied as part of a systematic research on the interactions between the components of the PVC-based electrolytes. It has been found that Li⁺ ions interact with the chlorine atoms of PVC in PVC-LiCF₃SO₃ samples. In LiCF₃SO₃-DMF samples interactions between Li⁺ is observed to be with both the oxygen and nitrogen atoms of DMF. PVC-DMF interactions are evident from the disappearance of the C-Cl stretching vibrations and the shifts in some peaks attributed to DMF. Free ions and ion pairs are observed to be present in the PVC-LiCF₃SO₃-DMF samples which affect the ionic conductivity of the samples.     

Crystal and amorphous orientation behavior of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) films in relation to crystalline superstructure

The relationship between the crystalline superstructure of polymer films and molecular orientation was studied in cold-drawn poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) films by wide-angle x-ray diffraction, birefringence, and depolarized light scattering. By changing crystallization conditions, specimens with almost identical crystallinity but different crystalline superstructures were obtained; i.e., (1) a structure having a random array of crystallites, (2) a superstructure having a rod-like orientation correlation of the chains (a prespherulitic and sheaf-like superstructure), and (3) spherulitic superstructure. Upon stretching of specimens, crystallites initially randomly arranged orient with their chain axes along the stretching direction in accord with simple affine deformation. The amorphous chains also orient along the stretching direction. The orientation behavior of the specimens having the rod-like superstructure is similar to that of the specimens with a random array of crystallites, indicating that the interaction between the crystallites in the superstructure is relatively weak. The molecular orientation behavior of the spherulitic specimens, however, strongly deviates from simple affine deformation owing to strong interaction of the crystallites in the spherulites. The deviation can be interpreted in terms of spherulite deformation and of internal reorientation of chains within deformed spherulites.     

Thermal isomerization and morphology of various polyacetylene films

Two DSC exotherms for cis-trans thermal isomerization of polyacetylene (PA) films were found near 145 and 170°C. These exotherms are related to the higher-order structure of PA films, depending on the sample preparation conditions. The high-temperature peak corresponds to ordered crystallites (A state), which is prominent in conventional Shirakawa polyacetylene (S-PA) and moderately stretchable PA (ms-PA) films. The low-temperature peak corresponds to disordered crystallites (B-state) found in highly stretchable PA (hs-x) films. The distribution of crystalline order in the B state depends on the materials. The A state is transformed to B state upon stretching of ms-PA, but the B state is not transformed to A state by stretching. The supermolecular structure is discussed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Use of solvent sorption to detect structural changes in rigid PVC compounds

The effects of type of PVC and its thermal history on solvent sorption behaviour were investigated. Samples were immersed in toluene at 25°C, and the equilibrium solvent uptake and sorption half-times were measured for a variety of samples. The shape of the sorption curve was also observed. Equilibrium sorption was found to decrease with increasing amount of crystallinity in the sample. Sorption half-time increased with increased crystallinity, but minimum equilibrium sorption did not correspond with maximum half-time, possibly due to the type of crystallinity present. The shape of the sorption curve (Fickian or Case II sorption) also depended on the ype of PVC used and is thermal history. The solvent sorption technique was shown to be a sensitive method for detecting small structural changes in PVC.     

Direct observation by laser scanning confocal microscopy of microstructure and phase migration of PVC gels in an applied electric field

The fluorescent probe lucigenin was incorporated in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gels, and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was used to clarify the internal structures of the gels. From the two-dimensional and three-dimensional information by LSCM, we first observed the internal structure of the PVC gel at a wet status, where the PVC gels comprised a polymer-rich phase and a polymer-poor phase uniformly with a three-dimensional network structure. After an electric field was applied, an effect of the electric field resulted in the change of internal structure in the gels. The polymer-poor phase moved from the cathode to the anode and the polymer-rich phase formed linelike arrangement between electrodes due to the attraction force. On the other hand, the freeze-dried PVC gels with/without in-situ dc voltage casting were particularly fabricated to confirm above results by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). It was found that many craters remained on the surface of the gel near the anode due to sublimation in freeze-drying. This phenomenon did not appear on the surface near the cathode. The results of in-situ dc voltage casting also suggested that a substantial amount of polymer-poor phase was moved and fixed at the anode. Thus, results of both LSCM and in-situ dc voltage casting corresponded to the effect of electric field on PVC gels and provided a convincing evidence for the interpretation of the deformation mechanism of PVC gel actuators by an applied electric field.     

Effects of plasticizers on novel electromechanical actuations with different poly(vinyl chloride) gels

Four different plasticizers were applied to make different poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gels, poly(vinyl chloride)‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (PVC‐DOP), poly(vinyl chloride)‐di‐n‐butylphthalate, poly(vinyl chloride)‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)adipate, and poly(vinyl chloride)‐tris(2‐ethylhexyl)trimellitate. In our previous work, we reported that PVC‐DOP gel exhibits novel and reversible deformations of creeping and jointlike bending induced by direct current electric fields. In this article, we scrutinize the effects of plasticizers on electromechanical actuations, that is, reversible creeping and bending actuation with four of the different aforementioned gels. We measured the relative creeping distance, creeping area, creeping velocity, current observed, and bending angle as a function of applied electric fields for different PVC gels and found significant differences among them. To explain these variations, we compared the utility of plasticizers on the basis of the properties of different PVC gels, such as plasticizer‐retention ability, bending modulus, elongation at break, and the dielectric constant. The mentioned properties of the PVC gels played vital roles on their electromechanical actuations. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2119–2127, 2003     

Crystal orientation in a semicrystalline polymer in relation to deformation of polymer spherulites. II. Orientation distribution function of crystallites within crystal lamella as a function of lamellar orientation

A model relating crystal orientation in a semicrystalline polymer to the deformation of polymer spherulites is proposed. The distribution function for orientation of crystallites within crystal lamellae is assumed to be a function of lamellar orientation. In addition to the orientation of crystal lamellae in affine fashion, several parameters are introduced to characterize the untwisting of the crystal lamellae and the four different types of orientations of the crystallites within the crystal lamellae in the undeformed and deformed states of the spherulite. The model was tested by experiments in uniaxial stretching of a low-density polyethylene. The theoretical distributions of orientation of given reciprocal lattice vectors of the crystallites, such as the reciprocal lattice vectors of the (110) and (200) crystal planes, are compared with the results of x-ray diffraction experiments. It was found that the most important factors in fitting the model to experimental results are: (a) the fraction of crystallites having random orientation within lamella and, in turn, representing the degree of imperfection of the lamella in the undeformed state; (b) the ease of transition of crystal orientation within lamella from b-axis orientation parallel to the lamellar axis to two types of c-axis orientations (type C_a and type C_r) parallel to the stretching direction; and (c) the fraction of crystallites having orientation in type C_r (unfolding mechanism) rather than type C_a (rotation mechanism).     

Rotational isomerism in open-chain polychlorinated hydrocarbons: Problems in predicting conformations from carbon-chlorine stretching frequencies

Normal coordinate analysis calculations have been made to determine the carbon-chlorine stretching (v(C-Cl)) frequencies of model rotational isomers of 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloropropane, 1,3-dichloropropane, 1,5-dichloropentane and 1,2,3-trichloropropane. The calculations were based on prior calculations on models of a number of primary and secondary monochlorohydrocarbons. The models were derived from the real isomers by ignoring the hydrogen atoms and considering only the heavy atom skeletal structure. The possible effect on v(C-Cl) frequencies of coupling between C-C1 stretching and adjacent CH₂ rocking modes in some isomers was taken into account where necessary. The results, and in some cases the frequency of the highest ∠CCC deformation mode, are used to establish the conformations of rotational isomers present in these molecules in the vapour, liquid and crystalline states. Conclusions are drawn concerning the applicability of known v(C-Cl) frequency structure correlations for monochlorohydrocarbons to polysubstituted chlorohydrocarbons. v(C-Cl) frequency correlations and assignments have also been made for several chloropropanes containing one CCl₃ group.