Strain birefringence in ethylene-propylene copolymers

A series of polymeric networks were prepared by the γ-radiation crosslinking of two ethylene-propylene copolymers containing 62 and 69 mol % ethylene units. The elastomeric materials thus obtained were studied in elongation, both swollen and unswollen, over the temperature range ?30 to 95°C. The experiments involved measurements of both the elastic force and birefringence, using primarily changes in temperature at constant length (rather than changes in length at constant temperature). There is evidence for crystallization in these networks, as manifested by marked decreases in force and increases in birefringence at relatively low elongations and at temperatures as high as 70°C. As expected, the birefringence and related quantities were found to be more sensitive to crystallization than the force, with the stress-optical coefficient showing the greatest sensitivity. The results obtained in the elongation-temperature regions presumably free from effects of network crystallization were used to calculate values of the temperature coefficient of the unperturbed dimensions of the chains, and values of the optical-configuration parameter. Both are widely used to characterize (spatial) configurations of chain molecules. Values of the former quantity are in very good agreement with those predicted some years ago using a rotational isomeric state model for ethylene-propylene chains of various chemical and stereochemical compositions. The extension of these theoretical calculations to include the stress-optical coefficient should provide further information on crystallization in ethylene-propylene elastomers and the configurational characteristics of these copolymeric chains.     

Microstructure rearrangement during the heat-treatment of melt-drawn poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers

Melt-spun poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers were isothermally heat-treated at constant length. Microstructural changes occurring during the heat-treatment were monitored using specific gravity, wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), optical birefringence, and static mechanical testing. Major changes in the density of the most highly oriented fiber examined occurred in times below 100 ms. For less oriented fibers, the time scale for significant density change increases to the 1–10 s range. The course of birefringence increase approximates that of the density. WAXS measurements show that crystallinity develops at essentially constant crystal perfection, but that the orientation of the crystallites first decreases and then increases with time. SAXS results show development of a four-point pattern, the azimuthal angle of the lobes decreasing with initial orientation, with temperature, and with time. A streak transverse to the fiber axis develops more rapidly than do the lobes. A two-stage transformation process is envisaged, the first stage being the formation of defective crystal fibrils and the second being internal rearrangement of the fibrils to form more perfect crystallites, separated by more amorphous zones. Changes in the crystallite orientation are related to constraints of the noncrystalline material on the crystallites.     

Birefringence changes in vertebrate striated muscle.

The changes in birefringence in the rigor to relax transition of single Triton-extracted rabbit psoas muscle fibers have been investigated. The total birefringence of rigor muscle fibers was dependent on sarcomere length and ranged from (1.46 +/- 0.08) X 10(-3) to (1.60 +/- 0.06) X 10(-3) at sarcomere lengths from 2.70 mum to 3.40 mum. An increase in total birefringence was measured dependent on sarcomere length when 55 single fibers were relaxed from the rigor state with Mg-ATP. Pyrophosphate relaxation produced a smaller increase in retardation when compared to Mg-ATP. The expected change in intrinsic birefringence during the rigor to relax transition was calculated assuming a hinge function of the subfragment 2 moiety of myosin. The changes in birefringence during isometric contraction and relaxation have been discussed in relation to possible structural changes.     

Birefringence of polyethylene melt in transient elongational flow at constant strain rate

Simultaneous birefringence and elongational viscosity measurements were carried out on molten commercial grade, low-density polyethylenes during simple elongational flow at constant strain rate and constant temperature. The birefringence increased with time during constant strain rate elongation. The increase in birefringence was a linear function of elongational stress throughout whole elongation, but the elongational viscosity increased in two stages. The increase in elongational viscosity can be divided into linear viscoelastic and nonlnear viscoelastic regions. The linear region appeared at small strain and the nonlinear region appeared at strain greater than 0.7. The elongational viscosity in the nonlinear region increased much more rapidly than that in the linear region. The Gaussian approximation, which is commonly used in molecular models, could be used for the transient elongational flow. A constant stress-optical coefficient C = 1.3 × 10^?10 cm²/dyn was obtained for all the elongational experiments, independent of strain rate (0.002-0.2s^?1). The stress-optical coefficients were weakly dependent on temperature, as predicted by the theory of rubber elasticity.     

Photoelastic properties of polybutadiene rubbers

Two polybutadiene polymers were used in this investigation, one with 98% cis-1,4 units and the other with an approximately equibinary mixture of cis and trans units. A range of cross-linking densities were obtained using dicumyl peroxide as a vulcanizing agent. The experiments involved measurement of both the elastic force and birefringence (using the changes in length at constant temperature) over the temperature range ?10?20°C. The force-extension curves for both rubbers were similar in form. Both showed a strong upward deviation from the Gaussian statistical theory at high extensions, especially at lower temperature in which the extension to break increases. As expected, the experimental data on both polymers showed the stress-optical coefficient to be substantially independent of the degree of cross-linking. On the other hand, the values of the stress-optical coefficient were found to increase slightly with a decrease in temperature. This effect is a result of the temperature dependence of the stress as indicated by the statistical theory.     

Molecular orientation induced by cooling stresses. Birefringence in polycarbonate: III. Constrained quench and injection molding

Residual stress and birefringence distributions are determined in polycarbonate samples obtained by quenching in a specially designed apparatus and by injection molding. The molecular orientation is distinguished from the thermally and pressure-induced residual stresses. The birefringence in the quenched samples is found to be positive and almost constant, independent of the quench temperature, but varying strongly with initial quench temperature between 150 and 180°C. The residual stress level, as determined by layer removal and sectioning, is very low. The birefringence distribution is mainly due to a tensile equibiaxial orientation induced by transient cooling stresses built up above T_g. The samples which are injection-molded with a high injection speed and without packing pressure display the same birefringence distribution as the quenched samples, apart from a local maximum beneath the surface due to the shear flow during filling. Apart from the flow during filling and packing, the frozen-in molecular orientation in injection-molded samples is also induced by transient thermal stresses present during vitrification. The birefringence from thermally induced orientation was found to be of comparable magnitude to that from flow-induced orientation. For a correct prediction of molecular orientation the thermal strains above T_g must therefore be included in simulation programs. Because of the low level of thermal stresses, the application of a packing pressure will lead to tensile stresses at the surface in general. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Studies of orientation and structure of crazed matter in polystyrene. I. Optical measurements

The optical birefringence and refractive index have been measured for crazes grown in specimens of varying thickness. The birefringence was found to consist of the sum of a small negative orientation term and a large positive form term. The latter term could be altered by filling the craze with liquids of various different refractive indexes. Two crazes, which showed a relatively constant width as the specimen thickness changed, could be described by a model with craze having a constant refractive index and birefringence but with impervious dense skins on either side. The numerical value of the form birefringence was approximately 0.6 of that predicted from a model of parallel rods which is not surprising as crazes have a networklike structure. The values of craze refractive index were in good agreement with other measurements. The existence of skins, of thickness approximately 300 nm, places some doubt on the relevance of thin-film electron microscope observations to the situation in the bulk. Other crazes which tapered in width were found to show both varying skin thickness and refractive index along their length.     

熔体中转变对四氟乙烯-六氟丙烯共聚物熔体流变性能的影响

用差示扫描量热仪与扭辨分析检出了四氟乙烯-六氟丙烯共聚物熔体中的转变。为了阐明转变的性质,用毛细管流变仪和微型平板粘度计研究了其熔体粘度的温度依赖性。发现,当温度上升到转变温度附近,熔体粘度先升高,然后下降,其粘度行为与热致型小分子液晶相似。但用偏光显微镜观察FEP共聚物熔体,未发现双折射现象。根据实验结果对转变的机制提出了解释。     

Orientation analysis of uniaxially drawn polycarbonate films,doped with fluorescent molecules,by UV-dichroism,fluorescence polarization and birefringence

Bis-phenol-A-polycarbonate (PC) is dyed in solution with fluorescent molecules of different shapes and cast to films. Rectangular samples, cut from these films, are drawn varying draw ratio and drawing temperature. The orientation of the fluorescent probes is investigated by dichroism and fluorescence polarization, that of the polymer segments by birefringence. Hermans' orientation factors obtained by dichroism and fluorescence polarization are in good agreement. Long rodlike fluorescent molecules exhibit greater orientation factors than smaller ones. The correlation between segmental and probe orientation is discussed. Keeping the birefringence constant, the probe orientation factors depend on drawing temperature.     

On the deformation mechanisms of oriented PET and PP films under load

Uniaxially orienred semicrystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(propylene) (PP) films were loaded parallel to draw direction at various temperatures. Changes in the submicroscopical structure of the films under load were examined by small and wide-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS; WAXS) and birefringence measurements. WAXS measurements reveal a decrease of the initial high orientation of the chains in the crystallites during deformation. Simultaneously, an increase of the birefringence was detected, indicating an orientation of chains in the amorphous regions. The alteration of the long period reflections in the SAXS patterns give strong evidence that lamellar stacks with different orientation angles according to load direction are present. Depending on the orientation of stacks, the contribution of lamellar separation to sample deformation alters, giving rise to different amounts of density changes in the stacks. Absolute intensity measurements of SAXS using a Kratky apparatus reveal that lamellar separation occurs preferentially below or in the range of the glass-transition temperature at small strain. With increasing strain and temperatures above the glass-transition slip deformation mechanisms become more important. The formation of microvoids was observed at strain near to elongation at break below or in the range of glass-transition temperature.     

Residual thermal birefringence in freely quenched plates of amorphous polymers: Simulation and experiment

Free quenching experiments were performed on thin plates of polystyrene (PS) and polycarbonate (PC). The thermal birefringence distribution along the thickness direction of the plates was measured. The birefringence data were compared with the results of a numerical simulation based on the linear viscoelastic and photoviscoelastic constitutive equations for the mechanical and optical properties, respectively, and the first‐order rate equation for volume relaxation. The effects of the initial temperature, quenching temperature, and quenching media on the development of residual thermal stresses and birefringence were evaluated. At higher initial temperatures (>105 °C), the thermal birefringence in quenched PS plates was negative at the center and positive at the surface, whereas at lower temperatures (close to the glass‐transition temperature), the birefringence became positive at the core and negative at the surface or positive through the entire cross section of the plate. The birefringence in freely quenching PC plates was positive at the center and negative at the surface at any initial temperature. These observations were in fair agreement with predicted data. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1850–1867, 2003     

Effect of the microphase separation on the electro-optical properties of isotropic melts of thermotropic liquid crystals

An analytical expression for the free energy of the isotropic melt of a mesogen under the conditions of the microphase separation is obtained on the basis of the Landau-de Gennes approach. The temperature dependence of the orientation and translational order parameters of the parameter characterizing microstructuring and the Kerr constant of a melt is calculated. The theoretical calculations are compared with the results from studying electric birefringence in isotropic melts of comb polymers. It is revealed that the break in the temperature dependence of the inverse Kerr constant can occur at the temperature of microphase separation for phase transitions of the first and second kind.     

Higher order structural analysis of stereocomplex‐type poly(lactic acid) melt‐spun fibers

The higher order structure of stereocomplex‐type poly(lactic acid) melt‐spun fibers of an equimolar blend of poly(L ‐lactic acid) and poly(D ‐lactic acid) was analyzed with wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and birefringence measurements. Two different crystalline structures were observed in the fibers: α‐form homocrystals and stereocomplex crystals. The weight fractions of the two crystals were estimated with the WAXD integrated intensity data. The crystalline orientation factors were obtained from the WAXD measurements. Well‐oriented homocrystals formed during a drawing process at the crystallization temperature of the homocrystal. Drawing above this temperature caused the stereocomplex crystal to be formed. The crystalline orientation tended to be lower with increasing drawing temperatures. Through the combination of the intrinsic birefringence and the fractions of the α‐form homocrystals and stereocomplex crystals, the birefringence of the amorphous phase was evaluated. The amorphous birefringence stayed positive and decreased with increasing drawing temperature. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 218–228, 2007     

The effect of natural rubber crosslink density on real time birefringence,true stress and true strain behavior

A newly developed real time spectral birefringence technique was implemented to follow the coupled relationships between birefringence, true stress and true strain behavior of varying crosslink density natural rubber vulcanizates at room temperature. It was shown that the stress optical law is valid even at early stages of crystallization during stretching and there exists a critical birefringence beyond which the metastable “near perfect” oriented and highly distorted crystalline regions form and upon retraction this crystalline order disappears at the same critical birefringence level. These crystalline regions exhibit nematic order with significant axial registry distortions at early stages of the formation. They are suggested to form at or near the juncture points of the chemical network formed by crosslinks, and physical network by chain entanglements where the orientability of the chains is the most efficient.     

Polyethylene fiber formation in tubular flow. I. Observations of growth pattern and fiber properties

The process of seeded growth of fibrillar polyethylene crystals has been studied in a tubular flow geometry for 0.01-wt % solutions of a high-molecular-weight polyethylene in xylene. The transformation sequence has been followed visually by using polarized-light illumination in conjunction with a video camera. Data are presented to show that transformation is initiated by the formation of a concentrated, unoriented, amorphous precursor fiber within which oriented birefringent crystals subsequently grow in consequence of the stresses transmitted by the flowing solution. Time constants for the precursor formation, birefringence initiation, and completion of birefringence were measured as functions of temperature and flow rate over a range of growth conditions. Wide-angle x-ray diffraction, overall birefringence, and optical hot-stage melting data were also obtained on the grown fibers. The net result of these observations is to conclude that fibrillar crystal growth during flow is always preceded by the formation of a liquidlike phase transformation which produces the concentrated, unoriented precursor. Subsequent orientation is in consequence of stress-induced crystallization with overall fiber orientation showing an increase with solution flow rate at a fixed temperature and a decrease with temperature at a fixed flow rate. At higher temperatures and lower flow rates, birefringence develops in an oscillatory fashion, indicating a remelting process possibly due to slippage of trapped chain entanglements formed by flow. A discussion is given of the implications of these observations for the understanding of flow-induced structure development, phase transformation, and oriented crystallization; this is expanded upon in a companion paper, Part II.     

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.     

Comparison of molecular orientation and mechanical properties of lyocell fibre tow and staple fibres

Samples of lyocell fibres were taken in the form of filaments from fibre tow of potentially infinite length and in their final condition of staple fibres. Mechanical testing showed comparable tensile strength, but a 50% lower modulus of elasticity for staple fibres and a higher elongation at break compared to filaments from fibre tow. Structural investigation by means of synchrotron wide angle X-ray scattering and birefringence measurement revealed a significantly lower degree of preferred orientation together with less fibre straightness for staple fibres than for filaments. It is concluded that plastic deformation during the processing of staple fibres from filaments induces permanent changes in the orientation of cellulose chains in the fibres, which in turn is responsible for the observed differences in mechanical performance.     

Electric birefringence of AOT/water solutions

The variation of the Kerr constant versus surfactant concentration in a solution of AOT in water was studied. The observed behavior shows changes when aggregates begin to form. allowing to measure the critical micelle concentration, with results coincident with those obtained through static light scattering and electric conductivity measurements. For concentrations higher than the critical micellar concentration the birefringence decreases proportional to the aggregates concentration The micelle contribution to birefringence is estimated to be negative.     

Increase in dynamic modulus of nylon 6 fiber in repeated heating and cooling cycles under sinusoidal deformation

The repeated heating and cooling cycles under sinusoidal deformation have been investigated on nylon 6 fibers. The fibers zone-drawn twice at high temperatures were used, which have a crystallinity of 52.2% and a birefringence of 59.4×10^?3. The heating and cooling cycle was performed twice at a frequency of 110 Hz over a temperature range from 0°C to 180°C and 190°C. The crystallinity and birefringence of the treated fiber were 51.7% and 60.7×10^?3, respectively, indicating almost no changes in molecular orientation and crystallinity. However, the dynamic modulus, E′, increased steadily over whole temperature range measured. Finally, the E′ value reached 21 GPa at room temperature and 10 GPa ever at 180°C. The elongation of fiber after two cycles was only about 5%. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Aging phenomena in isotactic polypropylene drawn at different temperatures

Fibers of isotactic polypropylene drawn at different temperatures show aging phenomena after drawing. In particular a modulus stiffening is observed at room temperature where the modulus increases with the aging time. In the same time scale the birefringence is constant, while drastic effects on the transport properties are observed. The aging phenomenon can be explained in terms of two mechanisms: a secondary crystallization and/or a densification of the amorphous component.