Complex polarizability as used to analyze dielectric relaxation measurements

The effect of representing dielectric properties in terms of the complex polarizability ^c = – i is examined. Loss curves ( and tan ) are shifted towards higher frequencies, revealing the existence of new relaxations and allowing the clarifications of ones already known. We have calculated the shift ratios (at maximum or tan )/ (at maximum or tan ) from the more conventional empirical equations representing the dielectric behavior. Some examples are given.     

An investigation of micro-brownian motions in polydimethylsiloxane by complementary incoherent-neutron-scattering and nuclear-magnetic-resonance experiments below room temperature

Two different experimental methods, neutron scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance are used to investigate the random methyl group and segmental rotational jump motions in polydimethylsiloxane. It is shown that nuclear magnetic relaxation and line width experiments are complementary to incoherent neutron scattering fixed-window experiments, the principle of the fixed-window experiments being discussed in somewhat detail. Satisfactory agreement of these experimental techniques is achieved as to the determination of the two model parameters of the motional processes in question, i. e. the activation energy and the preexponential factor of the Arrhenius ansatz made for the correlation time or jump time, respectively.Contribution partly presented during the meeting of the Macromolecular Club, June 8–10, 1983 in Uppsala, the spring conference of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft, March 12–17, 1984 in Münster and the Fourth International Seminar on Polymer Physics, October 22–26, 1984 in Eyba (GDR).     

Macromolecular conformations at the water-air interface: Interactions between alpha and beta conformations of polypeptides

Bidimensional miscibility between alpha and beta conformations of polypeptides was investigated at the water-air interface in the 15°–30°C temperature range. The polypeptides were poly--methyl-L-glutamate (PGMG), poly--benzyl-L-glutamate (PGBG) and poly--benzyl-L-aspartate (PBBA). The polypeptide conformations, alpha or beta, were checked by IR spectroscopy using the MIR technique.The spreading isotherms for mixed monolayers alpha-PGMG/alpha-PGBG and beta-PGMG/beta-PBBA showed bidimensional miscibility both for alpha-alpha and beta-beta mixtures.For the alpha-alpha system, attractive interactions among the polypeptide alphahelices were found (G_mix<0) and the driving factor appeared to be the entropic one (packing). Compressibility moduli and surface potential measurements showed a fluidification effect of alpha-PGBG on mixed monolayers. In the case of beta-beta mixed monolayers, ideal behaviour was observed and no fluidification effect detected.Scanning electron micrographs made on collapsed monolayers showed hexagonal structures for alpha-alpha mixtures and no well-defined or characterized features for the beta-beta system.     

Estimation of distribution of vinyl groups in micron-sized monodisperse polymer microspheres by bromine titration method

The distribution of vinyl groups in polystyrene/poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PS/P(S-DVB)) composite microspheres produced by seeded copolymerization of S and DVB in the presence of 2.1-m monodisperse PS seed particles was estimated from the amount detected with bromine titration method as a function of the reaction time under various conditions.Part CXXIII of the series Studies on Suspension and Emulsion.     

Phase separation in colloidal dispersions with nonadsorbing polymer

The influence of the volume restriction effect on phase separation in colloidal dispersions consisting of a nonadsorbing polymer has been studied using statistical mechanical cell models and perturbation theories in combination with Monte Carlo experiments. The attractive interparticle potential proposed by Asakura and Oosawa is used to represent the effect of polymer depletion between the particles. The equilibrium properties are determined using the cell model for the solid-like phase (with Monte Carlo simulations for the structure of the solid phase) and a perturbation theory for the liquid-like phase. Both aqueous and nonaqueous dispersions are considered, and the phase separation behavior predicted is compared with available experimental and theoretical results.     

Orientation of the diphenylene propane unit in stretched polycarbonate from two-dimensional magic-angle-spinning NMR

Two-dimensional magic-angle-spinning (2D-MAS) NMR has been used to measure the orientation parameter, P₂, of the diphenylene propane unit in bisphenol-A polycarbonate oriented by stretching to various extension ratios,, atT=295K andT= 403 K.P ₂ is proportional to the birefringencen, with a maximum birefringencen ₀= 0.189. There is some evidence that the order parameterP ₂ of the DPP units with respect to the chain axis deviates from unity.n ₀ is therefore expected to be different from the birefringence,n ₀ , of perfectly aligned chains of polycarbonate. The experimental results obtained forP ₂() are compared to those predicted by the aggregate model.     

Optisch aktive aromatische Spirane, 19. Mitt. Ermittlung von optimalen λ-Werten bei tri- bis polysubstituierten 2,2′-Spirobiindanen

Summary Nearly all ligand parameters which were empirically determined from disubstituted 2,2-spirobiindanes proved to be inaccurate for the calculation of the optical rotations of the title compounds by means of the so-called shortened approach, especially in the case ofo-alkylsubstituted carbonyl derivates. The modified parameters were now determined either by comparison of a series of similar substituted spirocompounds or — for the carbonyl derivates — from the torsional angles calculated from their¹³C NMR data.

Herrn Prof. Dr.K. Schlögl anläßlich seiner Emeritierung gewidmet     

Effects of pressure and solvent on the diffusion of aromatic compounds through polymers

The diffusion of six azo and five anthraquinone derivatives through nylon 6, poly(ethylene terephthalate) and secondary cellulose acetate films were studied under high hydrostatic pressures of up to 3000 bar and at temperatures 80–130 °C, by analyzing the diffusion profiles yielded in a stacked multiple film, placed in the solution of the diffusant. It was found that the diffusion coefficient,D, of the diffusant decreased with increasing pressure, giving a linear relationship between InD and the pressure, the slope of which gave the activation volume for the diffusion,V . It was revealedV increased linearly with increasing intrinsic molecular volume of the diffusant,V _w , the slopes being different between the azo and the anthraquinone derivatives. The ratio ofV toV _w (V /V _w ) ranged from 0.13 to 0.93, depending in a sensitive manner on the degree of swelling of the polymer matrix which in turn was varied by the solvent. The overall results could be explained in accordance with the formulation,V _{f, local} +V =V _w , whereV _{f, local} represents the free volume contribution. It was proposed thatV _w is increased by solvation when the solvent is good for the diffusant.     

Torsional potential and strain energy distribution in an extended chain under stress

Torsional potentialV() for the single bond transformation in an extended hexadecane, subjected to elongation, has been determined by molecular mechanics calculations. The stored elastic energy significantly modifies the potentialV(), the conformational energies and the barriers of transition. Apart from the soft torsional coordinate, elastic energy is also dissipated considerably by bond stretching and angle bending. Maximal variations of the valence coordinates occur in the vicinity of the torsional defect and dampen along the chain. At higher elongation, the gauche minimum on the potentialV() disappears and the calculations predict the abrupt gauche to trans transition. The energetics of torsion of a deformed chain are compared with the experimental data on the hydrodynamic extension of polymers in dilute solution by elongational flow. The calculations also provide details of a single bond transformation mechanism at conformational interconversions in a long chain, proposed by Helfand.     

Charge carrier photogeneration on some substituted polyacetylenes

The photogeneration of charge carriers was studied with the following polymers: poly-[N-(2-propinyl)-phenothiazine] (PPPT) and copolymers of N-(2-propinyl)-carbazole with N-(2-propinyl)-phenothiazine (PCz+PPT) and N-(2-propinyl)-carbazole with phenylacetylene (PCz+PA). In the case of PCz+PA, the experimentally found dependence of the photogeneration efficiency on the strength of an externally applied electric field could be well fitted with the curve calculated on the basis of Onsager's model of geminate recombination. In the cases of PPPT and PCz+PPT, on the other hand, the experimental values deviated strongly from the theoretical curve at field strengths between 10⁶ and 10⁷ V/m.Equal values for the separation distancer ₀ and the primary charge carrier yield ₀ were found for all polymers:r ₀=2.0 nm and ₀=0.20 at _inc=254 nm;r ₀=2.5 nm and ₀=0.15 at _inc=355 nm.With PPT and PCz+PPT a strong dependence of the electric resistance on the humidity content of surrounding air was observed.     

Scattering from concentration fluctuations in polymer blends: A monte carlo investigation

The collective scattering function S_coll( ), which describes light (neutron-, x-ray) scattering under wavevector , is obtained from Monte Carlo simulations for a symmetrical polymer mixture. The polymers are modelled by self-avoiding walks ofN _A=N_B=N steps on a simple cubic lattice, where a fraction _V of sites is left vacant, and an attractive energy occurs if two neighboring sites are taken by the same kind of monomer. Spinodal curves are estimated from linear extrapolation of S _coll ^–1 (0) vs./k _B T, whereT is the temperature. Also the single chain structure factor is obtained and the de Gennes random phase approximation (RPA) can thus be tested. Unexpectedly, strong deviations are found if one species is very dilute. The estimation of an effective Flory-Huggins-parameter from scattering data is also discussed.Contributed paper delivered at the Tagung der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft, Fachausschuß Polymerphysik, Hamburg, March 14–16, 1987.     

Molecular orientation in hot-drawn poly(ethylene terephthalate) films as determined from the intrinsic polarized fluorescence

The groundstate-stable dimers in the non-crystalline regions of uniaxially drawn poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films were used as chain-intrinsic fluorescent labels for studying the orientation distribution in the non-crystalline regions. As far as indicated by the spectra and the fluorescence decay law, the fluorescent group remains unchanged when the sample is uniaxially oriented by drawing above the glass transition temperature. In contrary to the behaviour of physically incorporated probe molecules, the orientation coefficient f ₂ ^F of the dimers is proportional to the amorphous orientation coefficientf ₂ ^A ; concerning the fluorescence signal, amorphous includes all the material outside the perfect crystal.During deformation, the orientation coefficientf ₂ ^F follows approximately a superposition curve of crystallite-like orientation, separable in the initial range of stretching ratio <2.5, and of true-amorphous orientation of the affine network type that becomes noticably at >3.At temperatures closely aboveT _g, and within the selected range of stretching parameters, the fluorescence intensity of PET remains nearly constant with increasing stretching ratio; at >2.5, where the maximum crystallite orientation is achieved and the increase of amorphous orientation becomes noticably, a slight augmentation of the dimer concentration is observed.     

Halogenated poly-(N-vinylcarbazoles): flexibility and viscometric constants

N-vinylcarbazole, 3-Cl-N-vinylcarbazole, and 3-Br-N-vinylcarbazole were homopolymerized via radical polymerization. Several monodispersed samples of respective polymers were obtained by fractionation and their intrinsic viscosities were measured in tetrahydrofurane at 25°C. The viscometric constantsK anda, the monomeric unit projection length , and the flexibility parameter were determined using the gel permeation chromatography technique to determine the elution volumeVe and apply a newly derived relationship between the flexibility parameter and molecular weight. The presence of halogen atoms in the carbazole group of PNVC varies the value of and, consequently, the rigidity of the polymer.     

Sedimentation equilibrium of suspensions of colloidal particles at finite concentrations

Equilibrium concentration profiles of non-dilute colloidal suspensions are calculated by means of the Carnahan-Starling expression for the osmotic compressibility of hard sphere liquids. The profiles depend on the average volume fraction of the suspension, , and on the field interaction parameter, ₀ (reciprocal of the Péclet number at infinite dilution). Profiles are computed for values of and ₀ typical of those encountered in sedimentation field-flow fractionation experiments. It is found that, in most cases, the volume fraction at the depletion wall is negligibly small and that the volume fraction at the accumulation wall ₀, depends on the ratio <>₀/₀ only. An inflexion point is found in the concentration profile if ₀ is larger than 0.13 whatever the value of ₀.     

Phase diagram of the system dihexadecylphosphatidylcholine/dihexadecyl-phosphatidic acid/water/NaOH at pH=14

Differential-scanning-calorimetry, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and³¹P-NMR spectroscopy were used to study the lyotropic and thermotropic properties of the system dihexadecylphosphatidylcholine/dihexadecylphosphatidic acid/water/ NaOH in dispersion with excess water at pH=14. The phase diagram showed that both phospholipids are demixed nearly completely in the gel phase. The coexistence of theP and theB -phase in the mixtures was pointed out in the freeze-fracture electron micrographs by the ripple structure (P -phase) and by the lamellar structure (B -phase).     

The acceleration of decomposition of potassium persulfate in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and polymer particles as a model of emulsion polymerization system

The decomposition rates of potassium persulfate (KPS) in aqueous solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the presence of polystyrene or poly(methyl methacrylate) particles as models of emulsion polymerization systems were measured by isotachophoresis. Free SDS molecules dispersed in the monomolecular state had an ability to accelerate the KPS decomposition, but SDS molecules adsorbed onto the polymer particles did not accelerate it.Part CXX of the series of Studies on Suspension and Emulsion     

Monte Carlo simulation of a lattice model for ternary polymer mixtures

Monte Carlo studies of symmetrical polymer mixturesAB, modelled by selfavoiding walks withN _A =N _B =N steps on a simple cubic lattice, are presented for arbitrary concentrations of vacancies _v in the range from _v =0.2 to _v =0.8 and chain lengthsN64. We obtained the phase diagrams and the equation of state for three choices of the ratio / _AB ( being the energy between monomers of the same kind, _AB being the energy between different monomers). Flory-Huggins theory provides only a qualitative understanding of these results. If the equation of state is fitted with an effective Flory-Huggins parameter _eff , the latter turns out to be strongly dependent on both concentration and temperature.Contributed paper delivered at the Tagung der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft, Fachausschuß Polymerphysik, Berlin, March 30–April 3, 1987.     

Anisotropie der WÄrmeleitung in gedehnten Elastomeren

Zusammenfassung An einigen schwach vernetzten, gedehnten Elastomeren und an gedehntem Weich-PVC wurde die WÄrmeleitfÄhigkeit senkrecht zur Dehnungsrichtung in AbhÄngigkeit von der Temperatur zwischen –10 C und +45 C gemessen. Die Dehnung blieb wÄhrend einer Messung konstant. ist kleiner als die WÄrmeleitfÄhigkeit der ungedehnten (isotropen) Substanz und nimmt mit steigender Dehnung ab. Die Anisotropie der WÄrmeleitfÄhigkeit zeigt sich besonders deutlich ( / ₀0,8 bis 0,9 für=200%) — gleiche Dehnung vorausgesetzt — bei Polymeren, deren Kettenmolekeln polare Seitengruppen enthalten (z. B. Butadien — Acryl-nitril — Copolymer, Polychloropren, chlorsulfoniertes PolyÄthylen), wÄhrend sie bei solchen, deren Molekelketten nur unpolare Seitengruppen enthalten (z. B. Naturkautschuk, Polyisobutylen), kaum in Ersoheinung tritt. Bei Weich-PVC sinkt die Anisotropie bei gleicher Dehnung mit dem Weichmachergehalt und verschwindet fast ganz bei Weichmacherkonzentrationen über 60 Gew.%, d.h. der Quotient / ₀ geht gegen 1, und zwar um so schneller, je grö\er die Wirksamkeit des Weichmachers ist. Eine ZeitabhÄngigkeit der Anisotropie konnte nicht beobachtet werden.

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Summary Thermal conductivity of some crosslinked strained elastomers and plasticized polyvinylchloride was measured normal to the direction of strain as function of temperature between –10 C and +45 C. The strain was held constant during one measurement. is smaller than the thermal conductivity of the unstrained (isotropic) material and decreases with increasing strain. The anisotropy of thermal conductivity appears specially clear ( / ₀ about 0,8 to 0,9 for=200%) — the same strain presumed — with polymers the chain molecules of which contain polar sidegroups (e. g. butadiene — acrylonitrile — copolymer, polychloroprene, chlorsulfonated polyethylene), whereas it can hardly be observed with polymers the chain molecules of which contain only non-polar sidegroups (e. g. natural rubber, polyisobutylene). Concerning strained plasticized Polyvinylchloride the anisotropy decreases at constant strain with the content of plasticizer and nearly vanishes at weight fractions above 60% plasticizer, that means, the quotient / ₀ will become 1. The decrease is the more rapid the greater the plasticizing effectiveness is. A time dependence of the anisotropy has not been observed.

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Herrn Prof. Dr.K.-H. Hellwege und Herrn Dr.W. Knappe danke ich für eingehende Diskussion und Förderung dieser Arbeit.     

Isothermic spherulitic growth and the shape of grain boundaries and growth fronts

We investigate experimentally and theoretically the isothermic growth of two spherulites of different modification into a supercooled isotactic polypropylene film. The faster growing-spherulite grows around the-spherulite, and finally the-spherulite is symmetrically and completely included in. In contrast to literature but in agreement with experimental evidence we find that the grain boundary between the teardropshaped-spherulite and the surrounding-spherulite consists of two parts, where one is always an arc of a logarithmic spiral. This-spherulite ends always in a vertex. Its angle depends on the ratio of the two growth rates only. Behind the vertex an intrinsic--grain boundary exists, degenerating to a channel in bulk material. The growth fron of the-spherulite, which ends on the logarithmic spiral or on the intrinsic grain boundary during growth, consists of an arc of a circle continued by an arc of a logarithmic spirial, too.     

Dielectric properties of moist CaCO3 filled polyethylene composites

The capacitance and the dielectric loss tangents of CaCO₃ filled polyethylene composites were studied. Composite samples, prepared by polymerizing ethylene on the surfaces of fillers, pre-treated by polymerization catalysts, were compared to normal mechanical mixtures. Dielectric dispersion,, and loss, , proved to be sensitive to heating or vacuum treatment. Investigation of samples under conditions of different relative humidities showed that the dielectric dispersion is due to adsorbed water. Both and increased with decreasing frequency and the ratio of loss and dispersion was nearly constant. Dielectric data measured at different relative humidities could be represented by a single Cole-Cole plot. Samples soaked in water for different periods yielded qualitatively similar but quantitatively different Cole-Cole plots. Composite samples showed higher losses at similar humidities.Possible interpretations in terms of a molecular relaxation model, an interfacial relaxation model, including a charged double layer mechanism, percolation theory and the universal response theory were examined, but none was able to fully explain the observed phenomena.