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Investigation of short range ordering in polymers by means of radial distribution functions derived from X-ray diffraction

Part 2 Polyethylene terephthalate

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Abstract

Four samples of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with different thermal histories were investigated by radial distribution function (RDF) methods. Intramolecular distances in the polymer repeat unit were successfully attributed to peaks in the RDF plot up to values of r ∼ 5 Å. A broad peak at ∼ 4 Å was attributed to nearest neighbour intermolecular ordering, but there was no evidence of ordering beyond this distance in samples annealed for prolonged periods at temperatures close to the polymer T g. This evidence does not support previous models proposing the presence of extensive para-crystalline ordering in amorphous PET. Low frequency broad peaks, with a periodicity of ∼ 4 Å, were resolved out to values of r ∼ 20 Å in the RDF plot for a sample with a density crystallinity index of ∼ 20%, thus confirming the sensitivity of the RDF analysis to short range intermolecular ordering.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Corporate Laboratory, Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, Runcorn, Cheshire, UK

    G. W. Longman

  2. School of Polymer Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK

    R. P. Sheldon

  3. Europa Division, Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, B3078, Everslaan 45, Everberg, Belgium

    G. D. Wignall

Authors
  1. G. W. Longman
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  2. R. P. Sheldon
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  3. G. D. Wignall
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Longman, G.W., Sheldon, R.P. & Wignall, G.D. Investigation of short range ordering in polymers by means of radial distribution functions derived from X-ray diffraction. J Mater Sci 11, 1339–1346 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00545156

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00545156

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