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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
Published on: September 26, 2016
Characterization of the drastic increase in molecular mobility of a deformed amorphous polymer
Etienne Munch1, Jean-Marc Pelletier, Bruno Sixou
1GEMPPM, UMR CNRS 5510, INSA de Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
Abstract:
Original experiments of dynamic mechanical analysis and small angle x-ray scattering on a deformed amorphous polymer below its glass transition temperature are reported. The mechanical treatment reveals high mobility zones induced by shearing and leads to a drastic increase in the molecular mobility of the system. These domains are evidenced by small angle x-ray scattering measurements, and their geometrical characteristics are independent of the applied deformation. An experimental procedure is proposed to determine an apparent activation energy associated with high mobility domains. The energy values obtained for intermediate modes rise from the beta to the alpha relaxation ones.
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