Abstract
A novel application of FT-IR imaging to simultaneously study solvent diffusion and solvent-induced crystallization in polymers has been demonstrated. Using a spectroscopic imaging technique, these phenomena were spatially resolved from the polymer/solvent interface to the bulk region of the polymeric material. Image acquisition with a 64 x 64 focal plane array detector in fixed time intervals, integration of specific bands in the FT-IR spectrum, and plotting the distribution of the corresponding integrated band absorbance values over the measured area allowed simultaneous monitoring of the solvent diffusion into the polymer and the related spatial distribution of morphological changes. These in situ experiments were performed in a controlled environment cell (temperature and solvent vapor pressure) with infrared transparent windows. The work was focused on syndiotactic polystyrene due to its scientific interest and technological importance. The type of diffusion and solvent diffusion coefficients for toluene at 20 and 35 degreesC were determined. Furthermore, conversion of amorphous to delta-crystalline syndiotactic polystyrene was observed, and the dependence of crystallization kinetics on solvent concentration has been described.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6498-6503 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | MACROMOLECULES |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Aug 2004 |
Keywords
- SYNDIOTACTIC POLYSTYRENE GLASS
- TIME-RESOLVED MEASUREMENTS
- MOLECULAR MECHANISM
- DISSOLUTION
- TRANSITION
- DIFFUSION
- MIXTURES
- SPECTRA
- CHAINS