6533b7d9fe1ef96bd126ca40

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Toluene self-diffusion in solutions of linear and crosslinked polystyrene

subject

description

Toluene self-diffusion coefficients in solutions of linear and crosslinked polystyrene (PS) at concentrations up to 30 wt% polymer have been determined over the temperature range 143–230 K using the1H n.m.r. static gradient stimulated echo method. At similar polymer concentrations, the diffusion coefficient values of toluene were higher for mixtures with crosslinked PS than for solutions containing linear PS. On cooling and approaching the solution glass transition, the amplitude decays in diffusion and spin-relaxation measurements become non-exponential and are interpreted in terms of a two-component decomposition. The estimated fraction of the toluene motionally bound to polymer increases on temperature reduction and is less for mixtures containing crosslinked PS beads.