화학공학소재연구정보센터
Macromolecules, Vol.43, No.17, 7192-7199, 2010
Origin of High Segmental Mobility at Chain Ends of Polystyrene
Effects of solvents on segmental dynamics of polystyrene (PS) at the chain end have been studied by the site-specific spin-label method of electron spin resonance (ESR). PS's having similar number-average molecular weight (ca. 25 kDa) but labeled with a nitroxde at the chain end (E-PS) or midchain segments (M-PS) individually were used for the measurements. Toluene and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) which are good and theta solvents, respectively, for PS were selected as solvents. The temperature variation of ESR spectra was simulated based on the "macroscopic order with microscopic disorder" model to determine the segmental mobility of the labeled segment. The E-PS showed obviously and slightly higher mobility compared to the M-PS in the bulk PS and in the concentrated PS/DOP (50/50) solution, respectively. On the other hand, the E-PS showed the same mobility with the M-PS within experimental uncertainties in the dilute PS/toluene (1/99), concentrated PS/toluene (60/40), and dilute PS/DOP (3/97) solutions. Namely, the chain end showed higher segmental mobility than midchain segments in high viscous media where large intermolecular hindrances such as frictional resistance, spatial restriction for conformational transition, and intermolecular coupling are expected. From this result, we conclude that lesser intermolecular hindrances around chain ends are the origin of the higher mobility at the chain end segments.