Viscoelasticity of low molecular weight polystyrene. Separation of rubbery and glassy components

The complex shear modulus was measured for four low molecular‐weight polystyrenes (M_w = 10,500, 5970, 2630, and 1050) near and above the glass transition temperature. For the lowest molecular weight sample, the method of reduced variables, the time–temperature superposition principle, was applicable, while it was not applicable for the higher M samples. For these higher M samples, it was assumed that the complex modulus is composed of two components (R and G components). The R component was estimated by subtracting the G component, which was assumed to be the same as the modulus of the lowest molecular weight sample. The time–temperature superposition principle was applicable to each of the R and G components, and the shift factors were different from each other. The contribution of the R component to the total complex modulus decreased with decreasing M. Anomalous temperature dependence of the steady‐state compliance for low M polymers as Plazek reported could be attributed to difference in temperature dependence of the two components. The estimated complex modulus for the R component was in accord with that calculated by spring‐bead model theory. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 389–397, 1999