Fourier transform infrared study of orientation and relaxation in poly(methyl methacrylate)

Infrared measurements of the dicroic ratio of poly-(methyl methacrylate) absorption bands provide a valuable method for determining the orientation as well as the relaxation of chains during stretching. Different strain rates and temperatures of stretching were used. Orientation relaxation was determined and a master curve was obtained at a reference temperature T_O = 135°C. The master curve shows that orientation relaxation behaves similarly to mechanical relaxation.