Multiphase solid state morphology

Although the parameters in equation [15.2] are a common type of data, their measurement for commercial polymers is difficult because of their multiphase solid state morphology. It was found that blocking force can be more easily estimated from the following equation ... 

It is important to mention that the structure/properties relationships which will be discussed in the following section are valid for many polymer classes and not only for one specific macromolecule. In addition, the properties of polymers are influenced by the morphology of the liquid or solid state. For example, they can be amorphous or crystalline and the crystalline shape can be varied. Multiphase compositions like block copolymers and polymer blends exhibit very often unusual meso- and nano-morphologies. But in contrast to the synthesis of a special chemical structure, the controlled modification of the morphology is mostly much more difficult and results and rules found with one polymer are often not transferable to a second polymer. 

Chapter 5 Structure and Properties of Materials covers the solid states (glasses and crystals), mesophases (liquid, plastic, and condis crystals), and liquids. Also treated are multiphase materials, macroconformations, morphologies, defects and the prediction of mechanical and thermal properties. 

Keywords multiphase polymer materials, solid-state NMR, structure characterization, morphology, conformation, cross-polarization, magic-angle spinning, polymer dynamics, chemical shift, relaxation times... 

Solid-State NMR study of multiphase morphology in low-molecular weight poly(s-caprolactones)... 

Bulk polymers are composed of amorphous and crystalline regions which have distinct domain structures and chain dynamics within the domains. In this article, some examples illustrating the use of solid-state NMR methods to probe the structure and dynamics of different polymer domains in multiphase polymer systems are reviewed. Observed chemical shifts are influenced by the population of conformers present in the different phases. Also, different components in relaxation time decay curves can be observed as a result of heterogeneity. By means of solid-state NMR techniques, unique information on the structural details of the domains in different dynamic states can be derived. Furthermore, phase separation can be detected in the order of nanometer scale. Such information is useful in designing the morphology and nanostructure of advanced polymer systems, to engineer desired physical and chemical properties into the materials. 

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