Fluorescence study of thermotropic liquid-crystalline polyesters

Photoluminescence behavior (polarization, lifetime) related to liquid-crystal (LC) formation was examined for the thermotropic liquid-crystalline polyesters poly [(ethylene terephthalate)-co-(p-oxybenzoate)] (PET40/OBA60) (OBA content: 60 mol %) and poly [(ethylene 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate)-co-(p-oxybenzoate)] (PEN50/OBA50) (OBA:50 mol %). The Growth of liquid-crystalline (LC) phases of PET40/OBA60 proceeded during annealing. even at low temperature (e.g., 138°C) and were promoted by an increase in annealing temperatures T_a in the experimental temperature range 138–260°C. The concentration dependence of fluorescence spectra of PET40/OBA60 in solution suggested that the fluorescences at 325 and 395 nm can be attributed to monomer and ground-state dimer, respectively. The increase in dimer fluorescence intensity and the decrease in the fluorescence anisotropy ratio r from 0.06 to –0.14 were observed with growth of LC phases. These effects are explained by an increase in the ground-state dimer population and a slight change in the dimer configuration, respectively. PEN50/OBA50 showed monomer fluorescence at 395 nm due to naphthalenedicarboxylate segments and excimer fluorescence at 430 nm. The r value for the excimer fluorescence decreased from zero to about ?0.14 with growth of the LC phase. Such an extraordinary phenomena, in comparison with the usual excimer fluorescences which occurs through energy migration, could be interpreted as the result of formation of high-concentration excimer sites induced by chain orientation in LC domains. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Fluorescence study on dynamics of liquid-crystalline polymers

Fluorescence measurements of various main-chain liquid-crystalline (LC) polyesters, poly[oxybiphenyl-4, 4'-diyloxy(2, 5-dihexadecyloxy)-1, 4-pyromellitoyl] (B-C16), poly[(ethylene terephthalate)-co-(p-oxybenzoate)] (PET40/OBA60), poly(oxybiphenyl-4, 4'-diyloxy-1, 10-decanedioyl) (PB-10), low-molecular-weight LC bis(p-hexyloxyphenyl) terephthalate (PP6), and a lyotropic LCP, poly(sulfo-1, 4-phynelene 3'-nitroterephthalate) (PSPNT), were carried out to investigate their dynamics and intermolecular interaction changes.     

Charge transfer interactions in liquid crystalline polymers probed by fluorescence spectroscopy

Rigid-rod aromatic LC polyester with long alkyl side chains and two thermotropic LC polyesters (PET40/OBA60 and PB-10) were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate their charge transfer interactions corresponding to LC configuration and changes during phase transition.     

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) reinforced by N,N′‐diphenyl biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxydiimide moieties

Starting with 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and methyl aminobenzoate, we synthesized a novel rodlike imide‐containing monomer, N,N′‐bis[p‐(methoxy carbonyl) phenyl]‐biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxydiimide (BMBI). The polycondensation of BMBI with dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol yielded a series of copoly(ester imide)s based on the BMBI‐modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) backbone. Compared with PET, these BMBI‐modified polyesters had higher glass‐transition temperatures and higher stiffness and strength. In particular, the poly(ethylene terephthalate imide) PETI‐5, which contained 5 mol % of the imide moieties, had a glass‐transition temperature of 89.9 °C (11 °C higher than the glass‐transition temperature of PET), a tensile modulus of 869.4 MPa (20.2 % higher than that of PET), and a tensile strength of 80.8 MPa (38.8 % higher than that of PET). Therefore, a significant reinforcing effect was observed in these imide‐modified polyesters, and a new approach to higher property polyesters was suggested. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 852–863, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10169     

Solvent-induced crystallization. II. Morphology

The Morphology of quenched poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films crystallized by low-molecular-weight organic penetrants is studied by scanning electron microscopy. Films with thicknesses from ca. 1 mil (0.0025 cm) to ca. 35 mil (0.1 cm) were exposed to methylene chloride (MeCl₂) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in the temperature ranges 0–38°C and 22–70°C, respectively. The effects on the surface and internal structures of contact with liquids and saturated vapors were examined. Severe porosity at the surface results from contact with the liquids, but only minor surface roughness appears following contact with vapors. Internal porosity developed in the thinnest films (ca. 1 mil) during crystallization in liquid environments. Here, the internal void fraction is greatest along the film centerline and decreases with increasing crystallization temperature. A mathematical model discussed previously accounts for the observed behavior.     

Thermoluminescence from photoexcited polyethylene terephthalate

Thermoluminescence from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been investigated. A correlation was found between thermoluminescence (TL) and thermally stimulated current (TSC). The apparent activation energy was estimated at 0.23–0.50 eV for both TSC and TL from ?170 to 0°C. This activation energy presumably indicates the trap depth, which is decreased by molecular motions, since both TSC and TL are quenched efficiently with visible light, but not with infrared light of energy of the magnitude of thermal activation energy. The spectrum of TL glow curves agrees with the photoluminescence spectrum at ?185°C, which is composed of an excimer and a monomer fluorescence and also a structured phosphorescence at wavelengths longer than 400 nm.     

Polarized fluorescence spectra of poly(ethylene terephthalate) films

The polarized excitation and fluorescence spectra of lowcrystalline, isotropic poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film samples were measured in the glassy state at room temperature. Whereas the emission anisotropy r₀ of the excitation spectrum, recorded at the fluorescence maximum, changes sharply from 0.35 to 0 with decreasing wavelength in the region around 317 nm, the polarization of the fluorescence spectrum of PET is independent of wavelength. The fluorescence polarization of PET remains constant, if the temperature is increased up to 22 °C above T_g until the light scattering due to the crystallization causes complete depolarization. The photophysical behaviour supports the existence of a dilute solution of groundstate - stable sandwich dimers in the non-crystalline regions of PET.     

The effect of temperature on the infrared spectra of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Reversible and irreversible spectral changes are observed on heating of solvent-cast films of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) between 30 and 230°C. The irreversible changes are due to the gauche-trans isomerization of the ethylene glycol segments and the corresponding changes in the symmetry and resonance characteristics of the aromatic rings. On the other hand, there are thermally reversible spectral changes. These reversible effects are primarily observed for the modes of the aromatic ring and the trans ethylene glycol segment. These reversible spectral changes include intensity variations and frequency shifts and are found to be linearly dependent on the measurement temperature. These reversible changes arise from changes in intermolecular and intramolecular forces as the temperature changes.     

Free volumes in liquid-crystalline main-chain polymer probed by positron annihilation

Free volumes in a copolymer consisting of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were probed by positron annihilation technique. Doppler broadening profiles of the annihilation radiation and lifetime spectra of positrons were measured in the temperature range between 30 and 230°C. Above the glass transition temperature (ca. 60°C), the lifetime of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) annihilated in the free volumes and its annihilation probability were found to increase with increasing specimen temperature. These facts were attributed to the increase both in the size of the free volumes and in the concentration of such regions due to rearrangements of molecules. From the observed lifetime of o-Ps, it was found that the size of the free volumes increases from 0.05 nm³ to 0.1 nm³ in the temperature range between 30 and 230°C. At solid-mesophase transition temperature (150–220°C), the size of the free volumes monotonously increases, while the increase in the concentration of such regions saturates at 174°C. The clear relationship between the data obtained by the positron annihilation and those obtained by differential scanning calorimetry was confirmed. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Solvent-induced crystallization. I. Crystallization kinetics

The kinetics of crystallization of quenched poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films during the imbibition of methylene chloride (MeCl₂) vapor is studied by density measurements. The effects of film thickness (0.0025–0.086 cm) and temperature (0–38°C) were examined. The data suggest that MeCl₂ transport controls the crystallization in thick films and at elevated temperatures, but that spherulite growth controls in thin films and at reduced temperatures. The application of a mathematical model developed previously supports this mechanistic interpretation of the data.     

In situ monitoring of free-radical polymerization by fluorescence quenching of fluorene and reactive derivatives

A new approach for monitoring in situ the progress of an addition polymerization has been developed based on the fluorescence quenching of fluorene. Fluorene is quenched by the enone functionality on acrylates and methacrylates, but is not quenched after the carbon-carbon double bond in this group is broken by incorporation into the polymer backbone. Ethyl (2-fluorenyl)methacrylate was used as a self-quenching comonomer during the 2,2'-pazo bis(2-methylpropionitrile)-initiated free-radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate at 60°C. The fluorescence intensity increases by 60% up to the onset of the gel effect (defined as the sudden increase in the temperature profile). The system shows sensitivity well into the glassy state, with fluorescence increasing more than two orders of magnitude from the beginning of the reaction. This sensitivity is compared with that of two free-volume-dependent probes, 1,3-bis(1-pyrene)propane and dimethylaminobenzylidenemalononitrile, and to fluorene. The temperature profile of the test-tube-scale reaction was used as an internal reference for characterizing the sensitivity of the probes with respect to the gel effect region. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chain extension of polyesters PET and PBT with N,N′-bis (glycidyl ester) pyromellitimides. I

Three N,N′-bis (glycidyl ester imide) of pyromellitic acid (diepoxides) were prepared and were used as chain extenders for poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT). The typical reaction conditions for the coupling of the polyester macromolecules were heating with the chain extender under argon atmosphere above the melting temperature (280°C for PET and 250°C for PBT) for several minutes. The Characterization of the samples, obtained at variable residence times in the reactor, was based on solution viscosity measurements and carboxyl and hydroxyl end-group determinations. Two of the diepoxides used gave satisfactory results. Starting from a PET having intrinsic viscosity [η] = 0.60 dL/g, and carboxyl content CC = 42 eq/10⁶ g, one could obtain PET with [η] = 1.15 dL/g and CC = 16 eq/10⁶ g within 30 min at 280°C. Analogous results were observed for PBT. The hydroxyl content of polyester in all cases was increased. When the quantity of the chain extender used was higher than that theoretically required for its reaction with all carboxyl end groups of the polyester, this resulted in some gel formation indicative of crosslinking. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chain-folding measurements in annealed poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Chain folding in unoriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films has been investigated as a function of annealing time and temperature. To meet this objective dynamic mechanical, infrared, and molecular weight measurements were used, together with selective chemical degradation to remove chain folds and amorphous regions. The β dispersion in the dynamic mechanical spectrum of PET is here tentatively associated with motions of methylene and/or carboxyl groups in irregular chain folds; the β dispersion is not found in quenched amorphous polymer, in polymer where amorphous regions and chain folds have been removed, or in highly annealed PET where the irregular folds have regularized. Upon mild crystallization and annealing (30 min at 110°C) of initially amorphous film a large β dispersion appears and then diminishes upon further annealing at 220°C. As the β dispersion diminishes, the infrared regular fold band increases more than the crystallinity band, indicating regularization of folds. The molecular weight of the degraded residue corresponds approximately to typical fold-period dimensions (～130 Å), and increases on annealing as expected from lamellar thickening. The degradation process has, by fold removal, reduced the chains in the crystals to a very short, uniform length.     

Extrusion,fiber formation,and characterization of thermotropic copolyesters

The flow behavior and the effect of the spinning conditions on the fiber properties and structure of poly(ethylene terephthalate) modified with 60 mol% p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PET/60PHB) were investigated. PET and its copolyesters with 28 and 80 mol% PHB were used as control samples. The melt of PET/60PHB at temperatures above 265°C exhibited extremely low viscosity and low flow activation energy. High birefringence, indicating the presence of a mesophase, was observed between 265 and 300°C on a hot-stage polarizing light microscope. The maximum tensile strength and initial modulus, 438 MPa and 37 GPa, respectively, were obtained at 275°C for a 0.69 IV polymer. The fiber strength and modulus were significantly lowered when extrusion was conducted at temperatures below 265°C. The fiber properties could also be improved when a high extrusion rate and/or a high draw down ratio was used. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the fibers spun at temperatures above 265°C had a well-developed, highly oriented fibrillar structure. The fibers spun at lower temperatures, however, were poorly oriented and nonfibrillar in character. The high orientation and superior mechanical performance achieved at high temperatures were attributed to the presence of the nematic mesophase in the polymer melt.     

Electrical Behavior of the Insulator Class-E around Glass Transition: Experimental and Numerical Analyses

Currents flowing through semicrystalline polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film were measured over the temperature range 60°–100°C in electric fields from 24 × 10⁶ to 72 × 10⁶ V/m. A study of the influence of these external stresses on the electrical behavior of PET, at glass transition phase, permitted interpreting its response in terms of dipolar relaxation and movements of free charges. The simulation of the charging current around the glass transition temperature using a model consisting of the presence of bipolar carriers and one kind of permanent dipole with relaxation time τ allowed reproducing the experimental behavior. From this numerical calculation, space dependence of charge densities and field can be determined in order to explain the electrical behavior of current, which depends on parameters such as injection coefficient A _i , relaxation time τ, and mobility μ.     

Effects of thermal treatment on biaxially oriented poly (ethylene terephthalate). III. Creep behavior following various thermal histories

Elongational creep measurements were carried out on a biaxially oriented poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film parallel to, orthogonal to, and at 45° to the principal optic axis. Measurements made after various thermal treatments which were intended to stabilize the physical state of the PET were shown to be ineffective. Samples were annealed at 140°C for 12 days and aged at 95°C for over 24 days before measurement without success. Thermal cycling between 41 and 91°C which was also employed to stabilize the mechanical response also failed. Significant deceleration of the creep rate caused by densification of amorphous regions of the samples during storage below the glass temperature T_g is illustrated. Because of physical aging below T_g and morphological changes occurring above T_g during the various thermal treatments and histories, time-scale shift factors were found to be not unique.     

Plasticization and Crystallization of Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) Induced by Water

Commercial poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was treated at R. H.>80% and room temperature for a set time. The glass transition temperature (Tg) decreases with the time of exposure to high humidity. The decrease in Tg is a result of plasticization. Our data indicate that the Tg of dry PET of 76-78°C may decrease to as low a temperature as 65-67°C when it is wet. Induced crystallization of PET in the presence of water reduces the cold crystallization temperature (Tc). The structure of water-induced crystals is imperfect and can be improved in perfection by annealing. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Polyterephthalates Bearing Bio-based Moieties

Dimethyl terephthalate was reacted with 5,5′-Isopropylidene-bis(ethyl 2-furoate), 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitols and ethan-1,2-diol in order to obtain PET incorporating bio-based moieties. Polycondensation was achieved in two steps: (i) the formation of a hydroxyethyl-terminated oligomer by reaction of starting diester mixture with excess ED and, (ii) a polycondensation step with elimination of ED was used to obtain high molar mass copolyesters. Copolymers of various compositions were synthesized and characterized by ¹H-NMR, SEC, DSC and TGA. The resulting materials are amorphous polymers (T _g = 104–127 °C) with good thermal stability.     

Effects of annealing above Tg on the physical aging of quenched PLLA studied by modulated temperature FTIR

The effect of the annealing few degrees above the glass transition temperature (T_da = 62 °C) on the physical aging (T_pa = 51 °C) of amorphous quenched poly(l ‐lactide) is investigated by an implementation of variable temperature Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). By using a temperature program composed of a linear heating ramp superimposed to a temperature modulation (modulated temperature FTIR), the reversing and nonreversing intensity variation of selected bands, related to high‐energy gg and low‐energy gt conformers, is investigated. It is observed that the annealing above T _g changes irreversibly the conformation distribution of the liquid polymer. The glasses obtained from annealed and nonannealed liquids behave differently, evolving in the physical aging toward their own liquid state and retaining the memory of their original condition before the vitrification. The recovery through T _g of the relaxation occurred in the physical aging depends not only from aging conditions but also by the thermal history of the sample above the T_g. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 174–181     

OBSERVATIONS ON DEFORMATION BEHAVIOR OF HIGH PERFORMANCE FIBERS BY POLARIZING OPTICAL MICROSCOPY

By means of polarizing optical microscopy (POM), deformation behavior of four kinds of fibers, i.e. ultra highmolecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber,and wholly aromatic (p-hydroxybenzoic acid/2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid) copolyester [P(HBA/HNA)]/PET (ACPET blend)fiber, in axial compression, axial impacting, and bending was observed. In compression, kink bands formed at an angle of55～60° to the fiber axis in 10-times-drawn UHMW-PE fiber, 75～80° in 40-times-drawn sample, 80° in PVA fiber, and 90°in the ACPET blend fiber. In impacting and bending, band angles of UHMW-PE, PVA and PET fibers are nearly the same asthose formed in compression, indicating that slip systems do not change. For any of the four kinds of fiber, band spacingexhibits great differences in compression, in impacting, and in bending, which may be attributed to the differences in thedegrees of strain or stress concentration.