Chain twisting in long-chain aliphatic compounds and polyethylene

Rate parameters for dielectric relaxation and the thermal properties of long-chain molecular systems are shown to provide evidence for chain twisting at chain lengths shorter than previously suggested. Comparison of the temperatures of maximum absorption at 1 Hz for mechanical and dielectric relaxation suggests that the underlying motion is not the same for the two observed quanties. The evidence for relaxation in polyethylene is shown to be compatible with this suggestion.