Polymers mechanical/dielectric losses

As stated previously, part of the work performed on a sample will be converted irreversibly into random thermal motion by excitation of the appropriate molecular segments. In Section 8.3.3 the loss maxima so produced through mechanical means were used to characterize the glass transition. The two important electromagnetic methods for the characterization of transitions in polymers are dielectric loss (3) and broad-Une nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (39-41). 

The electric properties of polymers are also related to their mechanical behavior. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor are analogous to the elastic compliance and mechanical loss factor. Electric resistivity is analogous to viscosity. Polar polymers, such as ionomers, possess permanent dipole moments. These polar materials are capable of storing... 

F ure 6.37 Mechanical and dielectric loss tangents for poly (chlorotrillnoroethylene). Reprinted, by permission, from F. Rodrignez, Principles of Polymer Systems, 2nd ed., p. 271. Copyright 1982 by Hemisphere Publishing Corporation. 

By combining the results of several methods (dynamic mechanical, dielectric, NMR, etc.), it is usually possible to determine quite reliably the structural units whose motions give rise to secondary relaxations. If dynamic mechanical measurements alone are employed, the usual procedure is that the chemical constitution is systematically altered and correlated with the dynamic mechanical response spectra, i.e. with the temperature-dependence of the G" and G moduli. If the presence of a certain group in polymers is marked by the formation of a loss peak characterized by a certain temperature position, size and shape etc., then the conclusion may be drawn that the motional units responsible for the secondary relaxation are identical or related with that group. Naturally, the relations obtained in this way are empirical and qualitative. 

Moisture has, in itself, usually not much effect on polymer properties, though the amount of moisture which can be absorbed by polymers varies within wide limits (between zero and a few %). Logically, the electric properties such as resistivity and dielectric losses are the most sensitive to water. As to mechanical properties, nylons show the strongest dependence on water absorption. PA-6 is able to take up a... 

Dielectric Measurements. The dielectric loss (c") curves at different frequencies for samples containing 100, 80, 40, and 0% PVC, respectively, are shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7. Figure 8 is a composite of the dielectric loss data at 1 kHz for each sample. The general characteristics of a and p relaxation peaks of the component polymers and their mixtures parallel the results of dynamic mechanical measurements. For each... 

Shutov, F. A., Platonov, M. P. On the mechanism of dielectric losses of gas-filled polymers in connection with specific features of their macro structure. All-Union Conf. Physics of Dielectrics, Leningrad 1973 (In Russian)... 

The nature of the interaction between water and the polymers is important because absorbed water can adversely affect thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of the polymer. Moisture absorption increases the dielectric constant, (5.6) and dielectric loss, (7) and has been related to device reliability problems. (8) Water-induced plasticization causes hygroscopic expansion, lowering of Tg, and degradation of mechanical properties. (9)... 

The dielectric loss behavior of PVAc was similar to that of the other polymers. An Increase in dielectric Intensity of the polymer s S mechanism was directly proportional to the amount of unclustered water. In addition when clustered water was present two separate low temperature peaks occurred as shown In the frequency dependent data of Figure 8. The higher frequency peaks were the result of clustered water. This is confirmed by the similarity between poly(vinyl acetate) and the clustered water peaks of other polymers as plotted in Figure 7. 

Dynamic mechanical and NMR investigations of crystals grown from dilute solutions for polymers other than linear polyethylene have been much less extensive. Studies have been reported for the linear polymers polyoxy methylene (3, 40, 94), poly (ethylene oxide) (3, 78), and nylon 6 (42), and the branched polymers polypropylene (40), poly-l-butene (19, 95), poly(4-methyl-l-pentene) (33), poly (vinyl alcohol) (78), and branched polyethylene (78). In addition, dielectric loss measurements have been made on crystal aggregates of poly (ethylene oxide) (23), poly (vinyl alcohol) (68), and polyoxymethylene (3) and mechanical loss measurements have been carried out on polyoxymethylene formed by solid state polymerization (94). 

Nearly every polymeric system absorbs some moisture under normal atmospheric conditions from the air. This can be a difficult to detect, very small amount as for polyethylene or a few percent as measured for nylons. The sensitivity for moisture increases if a polymer is used in a composite system i.e. as a polymeric matrix with filler particles or fibres dispersed in it. Hater absorption can occur then into the interfacial regions of filler/fibre and matrix [19]. Certain polymeric systems, like coatings and cable insulation, are for longer or shorter periods immersed in water during application. After water absorption, the dielectric constant of polymers will increase due to the relative high dielectric constant of water (80). The dielectric losses will also increase while the volume resistivity decreases due to absorbed moisture. Thus, the water sensitivity of a polymer is an important product parameter in connection with the polymer s electrical properties. The mechanical properties of polymers are like the electrical properties influenced by absorption of moisture. The water sensitivity of a polymer is therefore in Chapter 7 indicated as one of the key-parameters of a polymeric system. 

Polymer (specific type) Prestrain (x, y%) Energy density (MJ Actuation pressure (MPa) Thickness strain (-%) Area strain (%) Young s modulus (MPa) Electic field (MV m ) Dielectric constant Dielectric loss factor Mechanical loss factor Coupling efficiency (%) Efficiency (%) Ref. 

At very low temperatures, most degrees of freedom are frozen. The detailed chemical structure of the polymer chains does not remarkably influence most of the elastic and thermal properties at these temperatures. (Properties, such as mechanical strength or dielectric loss, may be influenced by the chemical structure because of factors such as steric hindrance and dielectric polarization.) Cross-linking is one structural feature of epoxy resins which might influence low-temperature properties. 

This chapter treats principally the vibrational spectra determined by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The means used to assign infrared absorption bands are outlined. Also, the rationale for the selection of permitted absorption bands is described. The basis for the powerful technique of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) is presented in Appendix 6A. Polyethylene is used to illustrate both band assignment and the application of selection rules because its simple chain structure and its commercial importance have made polyethylene the most thoroughly studied polymer. The techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance, neutron inelastic scattering and ultraviolet spectroscopy are briefly described. The areas of dielectric loss and dynamic mechanical loss are not presented in this chapter, but material on these techniques can be found in Chapters 5. 

Polypropylene materials (PP), because of their electric properties (such as surface resistivity Ps, volume resistivity pv, dielectric loss factor tg8, permittivity e), mechanical properties and resistance to noxious agents (resistance to acids, bases, salts and organic solvents) are used in various industries. Polypropylene materials characterise, also, with the lowest specific density among widely used polymers. Those properties predispose polypropylene to be used as a substrate for composite protective screens shielding people and electric or electronic devices against noxious activity of electromagnetic (EM) fields. Composite shields... 

In the majority of cases the compatibility of the polymers is characterized by the glass-transition temperature Tg, determined by methods such as dilatometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), reversed-phase gas chromatography (RGC), radiation thermal luminescence (RTL), dynamic mechanical spectroscopy (DMS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), or dielectric loss. The existence of two... 

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