The molecular dynamics of thermoreversible networks as studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy

Polybutadienes modified by a small number of 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione form thermoreversible networks via hydrogen bonding between the polar stickers. The molecular dynamics of systems with different contents of polar stickers are investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency regime of 10−1–109 Hz. Unmodified polybutadiene shows two relaxation processes, the α-relaxation which is correlated to the dynamic glass transition of the polybutadiene, and a β-relaxation corresponding to a local relaxation of polybutadiene segments. In the polar functionalized systems, besides these two relaxations, an additional relaxation process (called α*) is observed, which occurs…