Macromolecules, Vol.29, No.14, 5042-5045, 1996
Dielectric-Spectroscopy of Polystyrene/Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Composites
Dielectric spectra of composites of poly(ethylene oxide), PEG, in polystyrene, PS, have been obtained, as a function of frequency and temperature. The dispersion of a high-dielectric constant, low-glass transition temperature, semicrystalline polymer (PEG) in an amorphous, lower dielectric constant, high-T-g continuum (PS) has enabled the dielectric observation of four molecular relaxation professes in PEG. They are the alpha relaxation associated with the crystalline melt of PEG; two WLF type relaxations, beta and beta’, which we speculate to be respectively associated with the onset of segmental motion and free-volume expansion of unrestricted amorphous PEO chains and with amorphous PEO chain segments tethered in crystallites; and a sub-T-g, gamma relaxation associated with localized motions in the crystalline chain segments. The relaxations associated with the alpha and beta’ processes have not been previously observed dielectrically. In pure, neat PEG, the alpha and beta’ relaxations are obscured by de losses. The dispersion of PEO as micron-sized and submicron phases in PS enables its full relaxation spectrum to be observed.
Keywords:POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE)