Primary and secondary relaxations in bis-5-hydroxypentylphthalate revisited

The molecular structure of bis-5-hydroxypentylphthalate (BHPP) is like dihexyl phthalate but having appended to it two hydroxyl end groups, which contribute additional dipole moments and capacity for hydrogen-bond formation. In a previously published dielectric study of the primary and secondary relaxations of BHPP, it was found that all the dynamic properties are normal except for the anomalously large width of the primary relaxation loss peak. There are two secondary relaxations, the relaxation time of the slower one increases with increasing pressure, whereas that of the faster one is practically insensitive to pressure. Hence, the slower secondary relaxation is the "universal" Johari-Goldstein (JG) [J. Chem. Phys. 53, 2372 (1970); 55, 4245 (1971)] relaxation in BHPP. All is well except if the observed large width of the primary relaxation were an indication of a corresponding large coupling parameter n=0.45 in the coupling model. Then the predicted relations between the primary relaxation time tau(alpha) and the JG relaxation time tau(JG) found previously to hold in many glass formers would be violated. It was recognized that this singular behavior of BHPP is likely due to broadening of the primary loss peak by the overlapping contributions of two independent dipole moments present in BHPP, and the actual coupling parameter is smaller. However, at the time of publication of the previous work there were not enough data to support this explanation. By making broadband dielectric measurements of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) that have chemical structures closely related to BHPP but with only one dipole moment, we show that all their dynamic properties are almost the same as BHPP but the widths of their primary relaxation loss peaks are significantly narrower corresponding to a smaller coupling parameter n=0.34. The new data presented here indicate that the coupling parameter of BHPP is about the same as DBP and DOP, and the predicted relations between tau(alpha) and tau(JG) of BHPP are brought back in agreement with the experimental data.     

Primary and secondary dielectric relaxations in semi-crystalline and amorphous starch

The thermally stimulated depolarization current technique, TSDC, has been used to study the dielectric relaxations in cassava starch on semi-crystalline and amorphous samples. The A-type structure was observed by WAXS experiments and the variation of the crystallinity as a function of the moisture content, h, was followed on native starch. Retrogradation of the amorphous sample occurred at room temperature after 4 weeks in a closed vessel with a water activity 97.3%. In these conditions the humidity content reached a value of 28.5 wt% dry base and the crystallinity degree was comparable to that of the native starch. Three secondary relaxation modes were detected and attributed to short range orientations of polar groups and to main chain restricted motion. The influence of the moisture plasticization effect on the relaxation parameters of the local modes, was determined by decomposing the global TSDC curve in elementary Debye peaks with Arrhenius relaxation times. The main relaxation, α, which is proposed to be the dielectric manifestation of the dynamic glass transition, sweeps a wide temperature interval around room temperature as the sample dries, shifting to higher temperatures as a result of the plasticization of the polysaccharide by water molecules. The α peak deconvolution lead to the 2D relaxation time distribution and Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher parameters were obtained confirming the cooperative character of this mode. The transformed sample showed a bimodal distribution of segmental relaxation times that is interpreted as the existence of a heterogeneous amorphous phase: the mobile one which is similar to the original disordered phase present in semi-crystalline native starch and a more restricted one originated by the disruption of the crystalline lamellae during the pre-gelatinization process.     

Dielectric secondary relaxations in polypropylene glycols

Broadband dielectric measurements of polypropylene glycol of molecular weight M(w)=400 g / mol (PPG 400) were carried out at ambient pressure over the wide temperature range from 123 to 353 K. Three relaxation processes were observed. Besides the structural alpha relaxation, two secondary relaxations, beta and gamma, were found. The beta process was identified as the true Johari-Goldstein relaxation by using a criterion based on the coupling model prediction. The faster gamma relaxation, well separated from the primary process, undoubtedly exhibits the anomalous behavior near the glass transition temperature (T(g)) which is reflected in the presence of a minimum of the temperature dependence of the gamma-relaxation time. We successfully applied the minimal model [Dyre and Olsen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 155703 (2003)] to describe the entire temperature dependence of the gamma-relaxation time. The asymmetric double-well potential parameters obtained by Dyre and Olsen for the secondary relaxation of tripropylene glycol at ambient pressure were modified by fitting to the minimal model at lower temperatures. Moreover, we showed that the effect of the molecular weight of polypropylene glycol on the minimal model parameters is significantly larger than that of the high pressure. Such results can be explained by the smaller degree of hydrogen bonds formed by longer chain molecules of PPG at ambient pressure than that created by shorter chains of PPG at high pressure.     

Primary and secondary relaxations in supercooled eugenol and isoeugenol at ambient and elevated pressures: dependence on chemical microstructure

Dielectric loss spectra of two glass-forming isomers, eugenol and isoeugenol, measured at ambient and elevated pressures in the normal liquid, supercooled, and glassy states are presented. The isomeric chemical compounds studied differ only by the location of the double bond in the alkyl chain. Above the glass transition temperature T(g), the dielectric loss spectra of both isomers exhibit an excess wing on the high frequency flank of the loss peak of the alpha relaxation and an additional faster gamma process at the megahertz frequency range. By decreasing temperature below T(g) at ambient pressure or by elevating pressure above P(g), the glass transition pressure, at constant temperature, the excess wing of isoeugenol shifts to lower frequencies and is transformed into a secondary beta-loss peak, while in eugenol it becomes a shoulder. These spectral features enable the beta-relaxation time tau(beta) to be determined in the glassy state. These changes indicate that the excess wings in isoeugenol and eugenol are similar and both are secondary beta relaxations that are not resolved in the liquid state. While in both isoeugenol and eugenol the loss peak of the beta relaxation in the glassy state and the corresponding excess wing in the liquid state shifts to lower frequencies on elevating pressure, the locations of their gamma relaxation show little change with increasing pressure. The different pressure sensitivities of the excess wing and gamma relaxation are further demonstrated by the nearly perfect superposition of the alpha-loss peak together with excess wing from the data taken at ambient pressure and at elevated pressure (and higher temperature so as to have the same alpha-peak frequency), but not the gamma-loss peak in both isoeugenol and eugenol. On physical aging isoeugenol, the beta-loss peak shifts to lower frequencies, but not the gamma relaxation. Basing on these experimental facts, the faster gamma relaxation is a local intramolecular process involving a side group and the slower beta relaxation mimics the structural alpha relaxation in behavior, involves the entire molecule and satisfies the criteria for being the Johari-Goldstein beta relaxation. Analysis and interpretation of the spectra utilizing the coupling model further demonstrate that the excess wings seen in the equilibrium liquid states of these two isomers are their genuine Johari-Goldstein beta relaxation.     

Identification of dielectric and structural relaxations in glass-forming secondary amides

Dielectric relaxation dynamics of secondary amides is explored in their supercooled state near the glass transition temperature Tg by investigating N-ethylacetamide and its mixtures with N-methylformamide. All the samples are found to exhibit giant dielectric permittivities, reaching over 500 in N-methylformamide-rich mixtures around Tg. For both the neat and binary systems, the predominant relaxation peak is of the Debye-type throughout the viscous regime, which is an unexpected feature for a glass former with intermediate fragility. The present results combined with the earlier reported high-temperature data reveal that the dielectric strength delta epsilon(D) of the Debye relaxation extrapolates to zero at frequencies of 10(10)-10(11) Hz, which is about two orders of magnitude lower than the phonon frequency limit typical of the structural relaxation. This Debye process is remarkably similar to the dielectric behavior of many monohydroxy alcohols, which implies a common nature of purely exponential relaxation dynamics in these liquids. Based on the dielectric properties, we conclude that the Debye relaxation in the secondary amides is not a direct signature of the primary or alpha-relaxation, the latter being obscured at low temperatures due to the relatively low permittivity and close spectral proximity to the Debye peak. As in the case of monohydroxy alcohols, dielectric polarization and structure fluctuate on different time scales in secondary amides. The Kirkwood-Fr?hlich correlation factors for Debye-type liquids are also discussed.     

Interdependence of primary and Johari-Goldstein secondary relaxations in glass-forming systems

We report evidence from broadband dielectric spectroscopy that the dynamics of the primary alpha- and secondary Johari-Goldstein (JG) beta-processes are strongly correlated in different glass-forming systems over a wide temperature T and pressure P range, in contrast with the widespread opinion of statistical independence of these processes. The alpha-beta mutual dependence is quantitatively confirmed by (a) the overall superposition of spectra measured at different T-P combinations but with an invariant alpha-relaxation time; (b) the contemporary scaling of the isothermal-pressure and isobaric-temperature dependences of the alpha-and beta-relaxation times as plotted versus the reduced variable Tg(P)/T where Tg is the glass transition temperature. These novel and model-independent evidences indicate the relevance of the JG relaxation phenomenon in glass transition, often overlooked by most current theories.     

Synthesis of bis-3-alkyl-5-arylhydantoins and bis-3-alkyl-5-arylthiohydantoins separated by two and four carbon atoms

Synthesis of 1,2- and 1,4-bis-thiohydantoins and hydantoins employing ethylenediamine and 1,4-diaminobutane as spacers is described. Compounds containing a two carbon bridge were synthesized by alkylation of ethylenediamine with two equivalents of N-t-butyl-α-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)phenylacetamide 3 . The phenyl isothiocyanate adduct of 3 cyclized in refluxing toluene to form 1a . Other isothiocyanate or isocyanate adducts derived from alkylation product 4 required hydrolysis to induce cyclization. Compounds 1b-1f were obtained in this way. Compounds with a four carbon bridge were obtained by reaction of two equivalents of methyl α-bromophenyl acetate and 1,4-diaminobutane to produce N,N'-bis-[(α-phenyl-α-methoxycarbonyl)methyl]butylenediamine 6 . The isothiocyanate or isocyanate adducts from 6 cyclized, without hydrolysis, to form compounds 2a-2e .     

The effect of water on the secondary dielectric relaxations in nylon 66

Dielectric data were taken on nylon 66 at several moisture levels at frequencies from 10 to 10⁵ Hz and temperatures from ?70°C to room temperature. Moisture increases the frequency and the peak height for the β relaxation and reduces its activation energy. The peak height of the γ relaxation is reduced by moisture and shifts to slightly higher frequencies with little change in activation energy. The β relaxation follows the pattern of Jonscher and Ngai for a cooperative many-body process. The γ relaxation is slightly broader than a Debye relaxation and approaches that model quite closely as the temperature is increased. The high-frequency end of the β relaxation overlaps the γ relaxation.     

Crystal and molecular structures of bis-(5-methyl-5-butoxy-hexanedionato-2,4) Copper(II) and bis-(2,2-dimethyl-5-cyclohexyl-pentanedionato-3,5) Copper(II)

Two new volatile complexes of Cu(II) containing methoxy groups were studied in a combined X-ray diffraction investigation of the mono- (KUMA automatic diffractometer, MoK_α radiation) and polycrystals (DRON-3M, CuK_α radiation). The structures are molecular and consist of the trans-complexes of bis-(5-methyl-5-butoxy-hexanedionato-2,4)copper(II), C₂₂H₃₈CuO₆, and bis-(2,2-dimethyl-5-cyclohexyl-pentanedionato-3,5) Copper(II), C₂₈H₄₆CuO₆. The crystal data of C₂₂H₃₈CuO₆: a = 8.939(1), b = 8.887(2), c = 8.326(1) å, α = 107.92(2), Β = 108.15(1), γ = 85.52(2)?, space group P1,V= 597.9(2) å³, Z = 1, d_x = 1.283 g/cm³. The crystal data of C₂₈H₄₆CuO₆: a = 18.625(3), b = 16.126(2), c= 13.613(3) å, Β = 132.19?, space group P2₁/n, V= 3029.3(9) å³, Z = 4, d_x= 1.189 g/cm³. In both cases, the square planar environment of the Cu atom with Cu...O distances of 1.90 å is completed by interactions with two carbon atoms of the terminal groups of the two neighboring molecules at Cu...C distances of 3.66 å (average).     

Synthesis and characterization of new polynuclear bis-5-oxy-1H-tetrazoles

Different bis-phenols reacted with cyanogen bromide in the presence of triethylamine as base to give the corresponding bis-cyanates which were treated with sodium azide in acetone as solvent to produce new bis(5-oxy-1H-tetrazole) derivatives. One more bis-tetrazole derivative was synthesized by reaction of 5-(4-aminophenoxy)-1H-tetrazole with adipoyl chloride. The prepared compounds were characterized by usual spectroscopic techniques. Published in Russian in Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 156–159. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Dynamics of glass-forming liquids. XII. Dielectric study of primary and secondary relaxations in ethylcyclohexane

The dynamics of ethylcyclohexane are investigated by high resolution dielectric spectroscopy aiming to characterize the relevant relaxational features of this simple system in its fluid, supercooled liquid, and glassy states. The dielectric signature of structural relaxation is a primary loss peak with amplitude Deltaepsilon=0.01, and a secondary loss process is found in the glassy state. This beta relaxation is compared with a "slow" process revealed by ultrasonics and with previously found gamma and chi processes in similar materials containing the cyclohexyl group. The results suggest that this secondary process is an intramolecular mode rather than a Johari-Goldstein process, consistent with its persistence in the liquid state at slow relaxation times which exceed those of the alpha process. The dielectric activity of such a slow process requires that the dipole magnitude changes with the intramolecular transition, whereas a change in dipole direction only would be masked by the faster structural relaxation.     

Primary and secondary orbital effects in dyotropic rearrangements

A new class of orbital symmetry controlled reactions which involve the simultaneous migration of two σ-bonds is discussed. Analysis of the stereochemical fate of the migrating groups in thermal and photochemical shifts, based on the Woodward-Hoffmann roles and supported by MINDO/2 calculations, is presented.     

Correlation between primary and secondary Johari-Goldstein relaxations in supercooled liquids: invariance to changes in thermodynamic conditions

The primary alpha and the secondary Johari-Goldstein (JG) beta relaxations of supercooled glass-forming neat epoxy resin and 2-picoline in mixture with tristyrene are monitored by broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy at ambient pressure and elevated pressures. For different combinations of pressure and temperature that maintain the alpha-relaxation time constant, the frequency dispersion of the alpha relaxation is unchanged, as previously found in other glass-formers, but remarkably the JG beta-relaxation time remains constant. This is more clear evidence of a strong connection between the alpha- and JG beta-relaxation times, a fact that should be taken into account in the construction of a viable theory of glass transition.     

General properties of secondary relaxations in polymers as determined by the thermally stimulated current method

The method of thermally stimulated current (TSC) has been used to study the low-temperature dielectric β relaxations of several polymers including especially poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl acetate), polyamide 6, 6,6,poly(t-butyl acrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethyl methacrylate), poly(phenyl methacrylate), and poly(t-butyl methacrylate). The distribution characteristics of the relaxation processes have been determined from the corresponding TSC peaks by a fractional polarization technique which consists of applying the electric field in several discrete steps during a slow cooling. Several common features have been found in all the polymers investigated: the β peaks are characterized by a distribution of relaxation times resulting from a distribution in activation energy and this distribution is quasisymmetrical and continuous. These facts are in agreement with the hypothesis of a relaxation involving local motions of small polar groups undergoing various interactions with the environment. Some discrepancy remains, however, between our calculated values of the mean activation energy and those obtained from the dielectric loss.     

Primary and secondary pyroelectricity in highly oriented polyvinylidene fluoride

Measurements of the pyroelectric response in both free and constrained conditions are presented for low-draw ratio, high-draw ratio and voided form I polyvinylidene fluoride sheets. The results are used together with related data for the piezoelectric response and for the thermal expansion behavior to estimate the primary and secondary components of the total macroscopic pyroelectricity. For the high-draw ratio and voided sheets the primary response was approximately 90% of the total pyroelectricity compared with 40% for the low-draw ratio nonvoided sheet. It is proposed that the role of reversible temperature-dependent crystallinity is more pronounced in the high-draw samples. Previous NMR studies provide support for this conclusion.     

Transitions and relaxations in aromatic polymers

Transition and relaxation phenomena in 26 structurally related polyquinoxalines and other aromatic polymers were studied over a temperature range from 70 to 770°K by means of calorimetric, dilatometric, dynamic mechanical, and dielectric techniques. Differential thermal analysis and x-ray data showed these polymers to be essentially amorphous. The lack of crystallinity is attributed to geometric isomerism, resulting in conformational as well as configurational disorder. Calorimetric measurements gave discontinuities in heat capacities ranging from 12 to 54 cal/°C per mole of repeat-unit structures and provided unambiguous assignments of glass transition temperatures of these polymers. Depending upon structure, T_g varied from 489 to 668°K. Thermal expansion curves of annealed bulk polymer samples between 70 and 770°K exhibited only one discontinuity over the entire temperature range, namely at T_g, thus indicating the absence of any motion leading to transitions in the solid state of these polymers. Viscoelastic properties were obtained by means of torsional braid analysis and a longitudinal vibrational apparatus. In a typical case, the dynamic mechanical relaxation spectrum contained three loss maxima. A peak of low amplitude occurring at 483°K was attributed to impurity effects, resulting from endgroups and species of low molecular weight. The second and only major relaxation process occurred at 579°K, in the glass transition interval. A third, weak loss peak of unknown origin was found in the liquid state at 683°K. On the other hand, the dielectric loss curves of various polymers exhibited only one broad and strong absorption maximum at temperatures 30 to 100°K higher (depending upon a particular polymer) than equivalent major mechanical loss peaks. These differences are interpreted from a mechanistic point of view. Major mechanical relaxations occurring in the glass transition interval of these polymers are proposed to result from translational motions.     

Mechanical relaxations in polyamides

Dynamic mechanical measurements were carried out as a function of temperature (?100 to + 180°C) and frequency (3.5 to 110 cps) for a series of aliphatic terpolyamides, nylon 6 and nylon 12. Effect of crosslinking with toluene diisocyanate, of absorbed water, and of frequency are used to estimate the statistical segment length associated with the α′ relaxation. The effects of variations in the aliphatic chain length in the repeating unit on the temperature of the α′ relaxation are examined by means of copolymer rules with a view to explaining the reported insensitivity of the glass transition temperature of these polymers to changes in (CH₂)/(amide) group ratio. From the estimated length of the segmental motion associated with the α′ relaxation it is inferred that in a series of polyamides of the type nylon X or nylon X,Y (where X or Y = 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.) there should be a relatively small change in the temperature of the α′ transition for those polyamides having X or Y less than about 45. Experiments which are intended to establish the position of the crystalline α–γ transition are discussed.     

Primary and secondary kinetic isotope effects in E2 elimination reactions

Primary and secondary deuterium kinetic isotope effects have been measured for elimination of LCl (L = H or D) from some substituted 1,2-diaryl-1-chloroethanes. Although changes in these effects are in agreement with theoretical predictions, the high values of (E_H-E_D)_β and the significantly low A_H/A_D may suggest that either proton tunnelling or an internal return mechanism is complicating this E2 elimination.