Dynamic IR linear dichroism DIRLD

Figure 1-3 shows a schematic diagram of a dynamic IR linear dichroism (DIRLD) experiment [20-25] which provided the foundation for the 2D IR analysis of polymers. In DIRLD spectroscopy, a small-amplitude oscillatory strain (ca. 0.1% of the sample dimension) with an acoustic-range frequency is applied to a thin polymer film. The submolecular-level response of individual chemical constituents induced by the applied dynamic strain is then monitored by using a polarized IR probe as a function of deformation frequency and other variables such as temperature. The macroscopic stress response of the system may also be measured simultaneously. In short, a DIRLD experiment may be regarded as a combination of two well-established characterization techniques already used extensively for polymers dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) [26, 27] and infrared dichroism (IRD) spectroscopy [10, 11]. 

Dynamic IR linear dichroism (DIRLD) studies have been made using a rapid-scan interferometer system. For dynamic strain frequencies achievable are between 0.1 Hz and 10 kHz step-scan interferometers are useful. 

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