The effect of cross-linking on the molecular dynamics of the segmental and β Johari-Goldstein processes in polyvinylpyrrolidone-based copolymers

Soft Matter. 2015 Sep 28;11(36):7171-80. doi: 10.1039/c5sm00714c. Epub 2015 Aug 10.

Abstract

The effect of the cross-link density on the molecular dynamics of copolymers composed of vinylpyrrolidone (VP) and butyl acrylate (BA) was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). A single glass transition was detected by DSC measurements. The dielectric spectra exhibit conductive processes and three dipolar relaxations labeled as α, β and γ in the decreasing order of temperatures. The cross-linker content affects both α and β processes, but the fastest γ process is relatively unaffected. An increase of cross-linking produces a typical effect on the α process dynamics: (i) the glass transition temperature is increased, (ii) the dispersion is broadened, (iii) its strength is decreased and (iv) the relaxation times are increased. However, the β process, which possesses typical features of a pure Johari-Goldstein relaxation, unexpectedly loses the intermolecular character for the highest cross-linker content.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylates / chemistry*
  • Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry*
  • Dielectric Spectroscopy
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Methacrylates / chemistry*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Povidone / chemistry*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Acrylates
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Methacrylates
  • Polymers
  • n-butyl acrylate
  • ethylene dimethacrylate
  • Povidone