Studies of Polymers using Raman Spectroscopy

Manchester Materials Science Centre, UMISTJUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Ml 7HS, UK 

Developments in the area of the application of Raman spectroscopy of polymers have bMn covered elsewhere in tUs book [1] and this chapter is concerned with a specific application, the use of Raman spectroscopy for the characterization of the deformation of a wide range of both polymers and polymer-based composites. It is found that the wavenumbers Av of the bands in the Raman spectra of some of these materials change under the action of stress o or strain e. This change in the band position is characterized by either dAv/d r or dAv/de, which can be related directly to the deformation of the individual bonds in the materials. 

More recently there have been reports [1,4, S] of the development of Fourier Transform (FT) Raman systems which have certain advantages over conventional dispersive systems. FT Raman systems have been described in Chapter 7, and are potentially highly efficient, with a high calibration accuracy. One particular advantage for polymers is that the use of IR excitation wavelengths 

Polymtr Spectroscopy. Edited by Allan H. Fawcett C) 199 John Wiley Sons Ltd 

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DEFORMATION STUDIES OF POLYMERS USING RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY... 

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