| Abstract: | Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) was used to investigate the thermal cycling characteristics of two different molecular weight atactic polystyrene resins. Annealed compression molded samples were thermally cycled over the temperature range 253 K to 393 K with PAL spectra taken in 10 K increments upon both cooling and heating. The longest lived component lifetime and intensity, indicative of orthopositronium pick-off, exhibit thermal dependencies that can be interpreted in a manner consistent with anticipated free volume changes associated with structural transitions. |
