Ionic and excited species in irradiated poly(dimethylsiloxane) doped with pyrene

The influence of temperature (77–230 K) on the fate of pyrene (Py) radical ions and Py excited states in irradiated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) doped with Py is described. At 77 K, the Py radical ions seem to be stable, whereas the Py excited states [fluorescence (λ = 395 nm) and phosphorescence (λ = 575–650 nm)] are generated via tunneling charge transfer. In the range of the glass‐transition temperature (T_g = 152–153 K), the Py radical ions start to decay, taking part in a recombination process and leading to the Py monomer and Py excimer fluorescence (λ = 475 nm). The wavelength‐selected radiothermoluminescence (WS RTL) observed at approximately 395, 475, and 600 nm has helped us to identify the T_g range (152–153 K). The absorption maximum at approximately 404 nm, found in the temperature range under consideration, is thought to represent PyH^?, cyclohexadienyl‐type radicals produced as a result of the reaction of Py^?? with protonated PDMS macromolecules. With the initial‐rise method of evaluating the activation energy (E_a) with the WS RTL peaks observed in the T_g range, E_a values of 123–151 kJ mol^?1 have been found. Such high E_a values can be explained by the contribution of energy connected to the molecular relaxation of the matrix in the T_g range. The well‐known Williams–Landel–Ferry equation, with universal constants C₁ = 17.4 and C₂ = 12.7, has been successfully applied to the interpretation of old pulse‐radiolysis/viscosity data found for crosslinked PDMS doped with Py. The mechanisms involved in these phenomena are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6125–6133, 2004     

Ionic and excited intermediates in pulse-irradiated polypropylene doped with aromatics

A pulse radiolysis study of isotactic polypropylene (PP) film has been carried out with the main aims of investigating charge trapping in an undoped system and solute radical ion generation in an pyrene (Py) doped matrix. In PP, pulse radiolysis gives electron–positive hole pairs. The electron can be stabilized in the undoped system as a trapped electron, e. The transient absorption spectrum of e in the near-IR (up to 1800 nm) was observed in the temperature range 30–100 K. This IR absorption was not detected in the case of oxidized PP. In such a matrix electrons can be scavenged by oxidation products generating respective radical-anions (absorption in the UV RANGE, λ < 350 nm). In a doped matrix transient absorption bands centered at 450 and 500 nm were observed which can be assigned to the Py radical cation and anion, respectively. The recombination of these ionic species leads to monomer excited-state formation observed during and after the 17 ns pulse. Contrary to the Py-doped polyethylene no excimer emission was detected at room temperature even if Py content in PP was close to 0.02 mol dm⁻³. The rate of Py radical-ion decay was found to be temperature dependent. Two linear parts of the Arrhenius plot were observed which intersected at ca. 240 K, the glass transition temperature, T_g, for PP. The activation energies calculated for two parts of Arrhenius plot were equal to 111 and ca. 0.78 kJ mol⁻¹ for T > T_g and T < T_g, respectively. Some preliminary results concerning the ionic processes in PP containing two solutes (Py, 3,3′-dimethyldiphenyl) were presented. The mechanism of ionic recombination in PP will be proposed and discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1217–1226, 1998     

Polymerized ionic liquids: Effects of counter‐anions on ion conduction and polymerization kinetics

A novel imidazolium‐containing monomer, 1‐[ω‐methacryloyloxydecyl]‐3‐(n‐butyl)‐imidazolium (1BDIMA), was synthesized and polymerized using free radical and controlled free radical polymerization followed by post‐polymerization ion exchange with bromide (Br), tetrafluoroborate (BF₄), hexafluorophosphate (PF₆), or bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Tf₂N). The thermal properties and ionic conductivity of the polymers showed a strong dependence on the counter‐ions and had glass transition temperatures (T_g) and ion conductivities at room temperature ranging from 10 °C to −42 °C and 2.09 × 10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ to 2.45 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹. In particular, PILs with Tf₂N counter‐ions showed excellent ion conductivity of 2.45 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature without additional ionic liquids (ILs) being added to the system, making them suitable for further study as electro‐responsive materials. In addition to the counter‐ions, solvent was found to have a significant effect on the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization (RAFT) for 1BDIMA with different counter‐ions. For example, 1BDIMATf₂N would not polymerize in acetonitrile (MeCN) at 65 °C and only achieved low monomer conversion (< 5%) at 75 °C. However, 1BDIMA‐Tf₂N proceeded to high conversion in dimethylformamide (DMF) at 65 °C and 1BDIMABr polymerized significantly faster in DMF compared to MeCN. NMR diffusometry was used to investigate the kinetic differences by probing the diffusion coefficients for each monomer and counter‐ion in MeCN and DMF. These results indicate that the reaction rates are not diffusion limited, and point to a need for deeper understanding of the role electrostatics plays in the kinetics of free radical polymerizations. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1346–1357     

Epoxidation of bacterial polyesters with unsaturated side chains. II. Rate of epoxidation and polymer properties

Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate-co-3-hydroxy-10-undecenoate)s (PHOUs) with controlled amounts of unsaturated repeating units were epoxidized to various extents with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (MCPBA) in homogeneous solution. The epoxidation reaction was second order, with an initial rate constant of 1.1 × 10⁻³Lmol^−1.s⁻¹ at 20°C, regardless of the unsaturated unit content in PHOU. No substantial change in either molecular weight or molecular weight distribution occurred as a result of epoxidation, but the melt transition temperature and enthalpy of melting both decreased as the unsaturated groups were increasingly converted into epoxide groups. In contrast, the glass transition temperature (T_g) increased by approximately 0.25°C for each 1 mol % of epoxidation, irrespective of the composition of the PHOU. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2381–2387, 1998     

Volume dependence of thermal conductivity and isothermal bulk modulus up to 1 GPa for poly(vinyl acetate)

The thermal conductivity λ and heat capacity per unit volume of poly(vinyl acetate) (260 kg mol⁻¹ in weight average molecular weight) have been measured in the temperature range 150–450 K at pressures up to 1 GPa using the transient hot-wire method, which yielded λ = 0.19 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The bulk modulus K has been measured in the temperature range 150–353 K up to 1 GPa. At atmospheric pressure and room temperature, K = 4.0 GPa and (∂K/∂p)_T = 8.3. The volume data were used to calculate the volume dependence of λ, $g = - \left( {\frac{{\partial \lambda /\lambda }}{{\partial V/V}}} \right)_T .$ The values for g of the liquid and glassy states were 3.0 and 2.7, respectively, and g of the latter was almost independent of volume and temperature. Theoretical models can predict the value for g of the glassy state to within 25%. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1451–1463, 1998     

Effect of nanoscale confinement on the glass transition temperature of free-standing polymer films: Novel,self-referencing fluorescence method

The effect of nanoscale confinement on the glass transition temperature, T_g, of freely standing polystyrene (PS) films was determined using the temperature dependence of a fluorescence intensity ratio associated with pyrene dye labeled to the polymer. The ratio of the intensity of the third fluorescence peak to that of the first fluorescence peak in 1-pyrenylmethyl methacrylate-labeled PS (MApyrene-labeled PS) decreased with decreasing temperature, and the intersection of the linear temperature dependences in the rubbery and glassy states yielded the measurement of T_g. The sensitivity of this method to T_g was also shown in bulk, supported PS and poly(isobutyl methacrylate) films. With free-standing PS films, a strong effect of confinement on T_g was evident at thicknesses less than 80–90 nm. For MApyrene-labeled PS with M_n = 701 kg mol⁻¹, a 41-nm-thick film exhibited a 47 K reduction in T_g relative to bulk PS. A strong molecular weight dependence of the T_g-confinement effect was also observed, with a 65-nm-thick free-standing film exhibiting a reduction in T_g relative to bulk PS of 19 K with M_n = 701 kg mol⁻¹ and 31 K with M_n = 1460 kg mol⁻¹. The data are in reasonable agreement with results of Forrest, Dalnoki-Veress, and Dutcher who performed the seminal studies on T_g-confinement effects in free-standing PS films. The utility of self-referencing fluorescence for novel studies of confinement effects in free-standing films is discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2754–2764, 2008     

Wavelength‐selected radiothermoluminescence of polyethylene doped with pyrene

Radioluminescence from electron‐irradiated polyethylene doped with pyrene was investigated in the temperature range of 77–273 K. The spectra of emitted light were recorded, and temperature dependences of radioluminescence intensities at chosen wavelengths were examined using a wavelength‐selected radiothermoluminescence technique. The experimental results were explained in terms of an electron‐solute radical cation and solute radical ions recombination. Pyrene excimer emission was observed in the glass transition temperature range of the polyethylene matrix. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3378–3382, 2000     

Thermally induced polymerization of isobutylene in the presence of SnCl4: Kinetic study of the polymerization and NMR structural investigation of low molecular weight products

The polymerization reactivity of isobutylene/SnCl₄ mixtures in the absence of polar solvent, was investigated in a temperature interval from −78 to 60 °C. The mixture is nonreactive below −20 °C but slow polymerization proceeds from −20 to 20 °C with the initial rate r₀ of the order 10⁻⁵ mol · l⁻¹ · s⁻¹. The rate of the process increases with increasing temperature up to ∼10⁻² mol · l⁻¹ · s⁻¹ at 60 °C. Logarithmic plots of r₀ and M̄_n versus 1/T exhibit a break in the range from 20 to 35 °C. Activation energy is positive with values E = 21.7 ± 4.2 kJ/mol in the temperature interval from −20 to 35 °C and E = 159.5 ± 4.2 kJ/mol in the interval from 35 to 60 °C. The values of activation enthalpy difference of molecular weights in these temperature intervals are ΔH_Mn = −12.7 ± 4.2 kJ/mol and −38.3 ± 4.2 kJ/mol, respectively. The polymerization proceeds quantitatively, the molecular weights of products are relatively high, M̄_n = 1500–2500 at 35 °C and about 600 at 60 °C. It is assumed that initiation proceeds via [isobutylene · SnCl₄] charge transfer complex which is thermally excited and gives isobutylene radical‐cations. Oxygen inhibits the polymerization from −20 to 20 °C. Possible role of traces of water at temperatures above 20 °C is discussed. It was verified by NMR analysis that only low molecular weight polyisobutylenes are formed with high contents of exo‐ terminal unsaturated structures. In addition to standard unsaturated groups, new structures were detected in the products. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1568–1579, 2000     

Formation and thermal-induced decay of radical ions in polymer matrices

The formation of radical ions in γ-irradiated polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) matrices at 77°K and thermal-induced reaction of these radical ions were of studied by optical absorption spectroscopic measurements. The radical ions of stilbene and pyrene were investigated. These radical ions decay according to second-order kinetics, which means that the neutralization reaction of the cationic species and anionic species participates in the decay process. The kinetic plots consist of two straight lines; that is, fast and slow decay processes are concerned. The activation energies were estimated to be E_fast = 2.4 kcal/mol and E_slow = 6.4 kcal/mol, respectively. The probability of recombination reaction depends on the distance between cationic and anionic species.     

Ionic and excited species in irradiated poly(vinyl chloride) doped with aromatic admixtures: low temperature studies

The influence of temperature (77–290 K) on the fate of dopant radical ions and respective excited states in irradiated poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix, doped with pyrene, (Py) and tris(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate (TOTM) is described. At 77 K dopant radical ions start to recombinevia tunneling charge transfer, leading to weak isothermal luminescence (ITL). The wavelength-selected radiothermoluminescence (WS RTL) broad maxima observed for doped PVC in the temperature range 95–110 K have a similar origin, i.e., recombination of dopant radical ionsvia tunneling. Apart from the peaks representing the absorption of dopant radical ions the absorption maximum at 411 nm found for the PVC−Py system is attributed to Py−Cl adduct generated in Py^•++Cl⁻ reaction. The mechanisms involved in these processes are discussed.     

LC-polyimides XXXIV. Noncrystalline thermotropic copoly(ester-imide)s based on PET

Four series of copoly(ester-imide)s (co-PEIs) were prepared by transesterification of poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, with N-(4-carboxyphenyl)trimellitimide and an acetylated diphenol. Methylhydroquinone, tert. butylhydroquinone, phenylhydroquinone, and 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene were used as diphenols. The chemical structures of these co-PEIs were characterized by chemical analyses, ¹H-, and ¹³C-NMR spectra. A low degree of crystallinity was observed when the PET content was above 85% mol %. Between 60 and 80 mol % PET all co-PEIs are biphasic, whereas below 60 mol % the co-PEIs form a homogeneous nematic melt and below the glass transition temperature (T_g) a nematic glass. The T_gs vary continously with the molar composition but the mechanical properties drop sharply when the nematic phase changes to an isotropic one. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1813–1820, 1998     

Kinetic and ESR studies on radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of fullerene

The effect of fullerene (C₆₀) on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in benzene was studied kinetically and by means of ESR, where dimethyl 2,2′-azobis(isobutyrate) (MAIB) was used as initiator. The polymerization rate (R_p) and the molecular weight of resulting poly(MMA) decreased with increasing C₆₀ concentration ((0–2.11) × 10⁻⁴ mol/L). The molecular weight of polymer tended to increase with time at higher C₆₀ concentrations. R_p at 50°C in the presence of C₆₀ (7.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L) was expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.5[MMA]^1.25. The overall activation energy of polymerization at 7.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L of C₆₀ concentration was calculated to be 23.2 kcal/mol. Persistent fullerene radicals were observed by ESR in the polymerization system. The concentration of fullerene radicals was found to increase linearly with time and then be saturated. The rate of fullerene radical formation increased with MAIB concentration. Thermal polymerization of styrene (St) in the presence of resulting poly(MMA) seemed to yield a starlike copolymer carrying poly(MMA) and poly(St) arms. The results (r₁ = 0.53, r₂ = 0.56) of copolymerization of MMA and St with MAIB at 60°C in the presence of C₆₀ (7.15 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L) were similar to those (r₁ = 0.46, r₂ = 0.52) in the absence of C₆₀. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2905–2912, 1998     

A study of the thermal cure of a phenylethynyl-terminated imide model compound and a phenylethynyl-terminated imide oligomer (PETI-5)

The kinetic mechanism of the thermal cure of a phenylethynyl-terminated imide model compound, 3,4′-bis[(4-phenylethynyl)phthalimido]diphenyl ether (PEPA-3,4′-ODA) and a phenylethynyl-terminated imide oligomer PETI-5 (MW 5000 g/mol) was studied. FTIR was used to follow the cure of the model compound, while thermal analyses (DSC) was used to follow the cure of the PETI-5 oligomer. The changes in IR absorbance of phenylethynyl triple bonds at 2214 cm⁻¹ of PEPA-3,4′-ODA as a function of cure time were detected at 318, 336, 355, and 373°C, respectively. The changes in the glass transition temperature, T_g, of PETI-5 as a function of time were measured at 350, 360, 370, 380, and 390°C, respectively. The DiBenedetto equation was applied to define the relative extent of cure, x, of the PETI-5 oligomer by T_g. For the model compound, the reaction followed first order kinetics, yielding an activation energy of 40.7 kcal/mol as determined by infrared spectroscopy. For PETI-5, the reaction followed 1.5th order, yielding an activation energy of 33.8 kcal/mol for the whole cure reaction, as determined by T_g using the DiBenedetto method. However, the cure process of PETI-5 just below 90% by this method followed first-order kinetics yielding an activation energy of 37.2 kcal/mol. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36 : 461–470, 1998     

Kinetic evidence for the reaction of O•− radical ions and peroxodisulfate in alkaline aqueous solutions

Photolysis of S₂O₈⁼ in strong alkaline solutions (pH>13) in the presence of molecular oxygen yields ozonide radical ions, . These radicals show a complex decay rate sensitive to the peroxodisulfate concentration. A reaction mechanism, which includes the reaction of O^•− and S₂O₈⁼ with a rate constant k=(3−6)×10⁶M⁻¹s⁻¹ and accounts for the experimental results is discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 491–496, 1998     

Construction and applications of symmetrized valence bond wave functions

A method constructing symmetry-adapted bonded Young tableau bases is proposed, based on the symmetry properties of bonded tableaus and the projection operator associated with a point group. Several examples including the ground states and π excited states of O₃⁻, O₃, O₃⁺, and C₃⁻ are shown for instruction to construct the symmetrized valence bond (VB) wave function. Excitation energies of transitions from the ground states to π excited states of O₃⁻, C₃H₅, and C₃⁻ are calculated with an optimized symmetrized valence bond wave function in the σ–π separation approximation. Good agreement between the VB and experimental excitation energies is observed. The bonding features of the ground state and the first π excited singlet and triplet states for S₃ are discussed according to bonding populations from VB calculations. Both the singlet-biradical and the dipole structures have significant contributions to the ground state X ¹A₁ of S₃, while the excited state 1 ¹B₂ is essentially composed of the dipole structures, and the 1 ³B₂ excited state is comprised from a triplet-biradical structure. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 66 : 1–7, 1998     

Poly(N‐phenylmaleimide‐co‐acrylic acid)–copper(II) and poly(N‐phenylmaleimide‐co‐acrylic acid)–cobalt(II) complexes: Synthesis,characterization, and thermal behavior

The free‐radical copolymerization of N‐phenylmaleimide (N‐PhMI) with acrylic acid was studied in the range of 25–75 mol % in the feed. The interactions of these copolymers with Cu(II) and Co(II) ions were investigated as a function of the pH and copolymer composition by the use of the ultrafiltration technique. The maximum retention capacity of the copolymers for Co(II) and Cu(II) ions varied from 200 to 250 mg/g and from 210 to 300 mg/g, respectively. The copolymers and polymer–metal complexes of divalent transition‐metal ions were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The thermal behavior was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). The TG and DSC measurements showed an increase in the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and the thermal stability with an increase in the N‐PhMI concentration in the copolymers. T_g of poly(N‐PhMI‐co‐AA) with copolymer composition 46.5:53.5 mol % was found at 251 °C, and it decreased when the complexes of Co(II) and Cu(II) at pHs 3–7 were formed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4933–4941, 2005     

Micelles with highly branched nanoporous interior: Solution properties and binding capabilities of amphiphilic copolymers with linear dendritic architecture

This article describes the solution behavior of model amphiphilic linear‐dendritic ABA block copolymers that self‐assemble in aqueous media and form micelles with highly branched nanoporous cores. The materials investigated are constructed of poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, with molecular weight 5,000 or 11,000 as the water‐soluble B block and poly(benzyl ether) monodendrons [G] of second and third generation as the hydrophobic A fragments. The process of self‐assembly in aqueous media and the character of the micellar core are investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as the molecular probe. The data obtained by different methods indicate that the critical micelle concentrations (cmc) for these systems are between 1.1 × 10⁻⁵ and 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L for [G‐2]‐PEG5000‐[G‐2] and between 7.08 × 10⁻⁶ and 7.94 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L for [G‐3]‐PEG11000‐[G‐3]. It is found that the ratio of the first and third vibronic bands (I₁/I₃ ) in the fluorescence spectrum of the encapsulated pyrene changes from 1.77 to 1.32 when the concentration of [G‐2]‐PEG5000‐[G‐2] increases from 1.1 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L to 1.1 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L. For [G‐3]‐PEG11000‐[G‐3] these changes are between 1.77 and 1.17 in the same concentration range. The hybrid copolymers form host‐guest complexes with several polyaromatic compounds (phenanthrene, pyrene, perylene and fullerene, C₆₀) that are stable over extended periods of time (more than 12 months). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2711–2727, 2000     

A kinetic study of diffusion in the electrothermal atomizer with a graphite filter by laser excited atomic fluorescence

Laser excited atomic fluorescence-electrothermal atomizer (LEAFS-ETA) was used to study atomization and diffusion mechanisms in a novel diffusive graphite tube atomizer. The atomizer design included a hollow graphite cylinder mounted between two graphite rods which served as electrodes. One of the rods had a small graphite insert with a sampling hollow and could move backwards and forwards. After the sample was introduced into the hollow, the electrodes tightly sealed the graphite cylinder ensuring that the insert was directly in the center of the furnace. The furnace assembly was then heated and the vaporized sample diffused through the hot graphite wall. The atomic fraction of the sample vapor was excited by a laser beam which was directed along the graphite tube surface so that no gap remained between the beam and the tube surface. Fluorescence vs. time profiles for three elements — Cu, Ag and Ni — were obtained within the temperature range of 1400–2600 K. The rate constants of specific processes were measured from the decay portions of the fluorescence signals under the assumption of first-order kinetics. The Arrhenius plots were constructed and the activation energies, E_a were evaluated from their slopes. The plots obtained for Cu and Ag consisted of two linear parts, the corresponding values of E_a were: 195 kJ/mol and 77 kJ/mol for Cu (1550 K < T < 2600 K) and 238 kJ/mol and 97 kJ/mol for Ag (1430 K < T < 2280 K). The Arrhenius plot for Ni was linear within the temperature range of 1770–2530 K resulting in an E_a equal to 161 kJ/mol. The diffusion coefficients were evaluated on the basis of a steady-state diffusion model out of a hollow cylinder. The values for the diffusion coefficients were: 3.7·10⁻⁴−2.0·10⁻³ cm²/s (1750–2600 K) for Cu, 6.5·10⁻³−1.4·10⁻³ cm²/s (1750–2280 K) for Ag and 5.6·10⁻⁵−1.5·10⁻³ cm²/s (1770–2530 K) for Ni.     

Temperature dependence of the reaction of NO with CFCl2CH2O2 and CH3CFClO2 radicals

The reaction of NO with the peroxy radical CFCl₂CH₂O₂, and with CH₃CFClO₂ was investigated at 8(SINGLEBOND)20 torr and 263(SINGLEBOND)321 K by UV flash photolysis of CFCl₂CH₃/O₂/NO gas mixtures. The kinetics were determined from observations of the growth rate of the CFCl₂CH₂O radical and the decay rate of NO by time-resolved mass spectrometry. The temperature dependence of the bimolecular rate coefficients, with their statistical uncertainties, can be expressed as (2.9 ± 0.7) e^(435±96)/T × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule ⁻¹s⁻¹, or (1.3 ± 0.2) (T/300)^{&minus(1.5±0.2)} × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for NO + CFCl₂CH₂O₂, and (3.3 ± 0.6)e^(516±73)/T × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, or (2.0 ± 0.3) (T/300)^{&minus(1.8±0.3)} × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for NO + CH₃CFClO₂. No pressure dependence of the rate coefficients could be detected over the 8(SINGLEBOND)20 torr range investigated. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Open spaces and molecular motions of polyether-based network polymers probed by positron annihilation

The lifetimes of positrons have been measured for network polymers based on polyethers. From the temperature dependence of the lifetime of ortho-positronium (o-Ps), τ₃, for the network polymer of poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide) [P(EO/PO)], an onset temperature for limited local motions of molecules, T_γ, and the glass transition temperature, T_g, were determined to be 57 and 201 K, respectively. For the network polymer of poly[EO-co-2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl glycidyl ether] [P(EO/MEEGE)], T_γ and T_g were determined to be 57 and 185 K, respectively. For both specimens, above 270 K, the observed linear temperature dependence of τ₃ was attributed to the thermal expansion of open spaces in a liquid state. In the temperature range between T_γ and 270 K, for the P(EO/MEEGE) network, τ₃ was longer and its intensity was smaller than those for the P(EO/PO) network. These results were attributed to the increase in the size of open spaces for the P(EO/MEEGE) network polymer and the blocking of these regions by motions of side chains and chain ends. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1919–1925, 1998