| Abstract: | An investigation of the internal motion in organosilicon polymers by wideline nuclear magnetic resonance has been extended to a pair of dimethylpolysilazanes crosslinked through trifunctional silicon. The data suggest that there is considerable internal motion in all silazanes at 77°K. Evidence is presented for the presence of C3 rotation of the methyl groups, as well as rotation or torsional oscillation of the Si(CH3)2 groups about the polymer backbone. Upon warming the NMR line is seen to narrow, and this is associated with the onset of additional motion, including chain translation and chain flexing or bending. Crosslinking through silicon increases the barrier to chain translation while decreasing the barrier to chain flexing or bending. |
