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Two matrix-free polystyrene-grafted silica nanocomposite samples with graft chain lengths of 35 and 112 kg/mol are characterized by calorimetry and rheometry, and results are compared to neat polys...

A series of second-generation dendronized wedge polymers were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization, and the linear viscoelastic response over a wide range of temperatures was investigated. From 0 to 90 °C the dynamic moduli (G′(ω) and G″(ω)) were determined, and frequency–temperature superposition was used to create master curves that showed behavior from the terminal zone to the glassy regime. An apparent extremely low rubbery plateau of ∼10 kPa was observed in both the dynamic response and in the corresponding van Gurp–Palmen plot. However, further investigation shows that the apparent rubbery plateau is related to the steady-state recoverable compliance, not the onset of entanglements. In addition, these wedge polymers exhibit an extremely low glassy modulus of ∼100 MPa at 0 °C, which is shown to increase at 1 Hz to ∼700 MPa at −80 °C for the wedge polymer 2G-EHW-311. In addition, both small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering patterns were obtained for all of the polymers investigated, and these showed that the polymer molecules adopt an extended cylinder conformation. Furthermore, based on calorimetric measurements, the polymers were found to exhibit two glass transition temperatures, with a 100 K difference between the higher (T_(g,hi) = 26.8 ± 0.7 °C) and lower glass transition temperatures (T_(g,lo) = −76.1 ± 1.1 °C) for the 2G-EHW-311 material. Hence, an intermediate regime extends to well below the T_(g,hi) to T_(g,lo), providing an explanation for the low glassy modulus of ∼100 MPa at 0 °C and its increase to ∼700 MPa when measured at T_(g,hi) – 100 °C and approaching the T_(g,lo).

An efficient method for synthesis of well-defined, well-characterized, tadpole-shaped polystyrene with a single atom junction point that is optimal for the study of dynamics has been developed using anionic polymerization, silicon chloride linking chemistry, and metathesis ring closure. The difunctional macromolecular linking agent, ω-methyldichlorosilylpolystyrene, was formed by reacting sec-butyllithium-initiated poly(styryl)lithium with excess (30×) methyltrichlorosilane to eliminate formation of linear dimer and three-arm star polystyrene. The asymmetric, three-arm, star precursor was formed by linking excess α-4-pentenylpoly(styryl)lithium (α-PSLi) with the macromolecular linking agent, and the excess α-PSLi functionalized with ethylene oxide before termination with methanol to facilitate chromatographic separation. Cyclization of the three-arm, star precursor to form tadpole-shaped polystyrene was effected in methylene chloride at high dilution using the Grubbs first generation catalyst, bis(tricycl...

Enthalpy recovery for a single polystyrene ultrathin film of 20 nm thickness is studied using Flash DSC over an extended time and temperature range. Results are compared to a bulk sample of the same polystyrene using a similar experimental protocol and analysis procedure in an effort to determine the effects of nanoconfinement. Examined is the cooling rate dependence of the glass transition temperature (Tg) of unaged films which informs the initial fictive temperature (Tfo) and thus the jump size (Tfo - Ta) for a given aging temperature (Ta). Isothermal enthalpy recovery is investigated as a function of both Ta for various cooling rates and as a function of jump size at constant Ta. The apparent activation energies at Tg and along the glassy line are determined and compared, as is the enthalpy recovery aging rate. Although the apparent activation energy along the glass line is the same within experimental error as the bulk, the aging rate is found to be slightly faster in the ultrathin film. Increasing the cooling rate prior to aging increases the aging rate. The results are discussed in the context of the two competing factors which influence the aging rate, namely, the driving force and the molecular mobility. The driving force for aging is dictated by the jump size or cooling rate, i.e., the value of Tfo - Ta. The mobility, on the other hand, is dictated by the relaxation time at the aging temperature, which increases during aging from the value on the initial glass line to that at equilibrium. The initial mobility in the glassy state is dictated by the jump size, being related to Tfo - Ta and the temperature dependence of the relaxation time along the glass line, whereas the mobility at equilibrium is dictated by Ta, Tg, and the temperature dependence and breadth of the equilibrium relaxation time.

Vacuum pyrolysis deposition (VPD) has been used to create an ultrastable polymer glass having a fictive temperature Tf of as much as 57 K below the nominal glass transition temperature of the thermally rejuvenated polymer. Amorphous fluoropolymer films 300 to 700 nm thick were created by VPD followed by characterization of the thermal response using rapid-scanning chip calorimetry. The deposition was performed for substrates held at temperatures from 30.0 °C (303.2 K) to 116.7 °C (389.9 K) corresponding to approximately 0.75 to 0.97 times the limiting fictive temperature Tf′ ≈ Tg of the same material determined by cooling then heating at 600 K/s. Consistent with literature observations for small molecules that are vapor deposited in similar conditions relative to the material Tg, large enthalpy overshoots are observed, typical of both highly aged and ultrastable glasses. The 57 K reduction in Tf for the VPD polymers is greater than prior reports for physical vapor deposition of small molecules to form ult...

The structural recovery of a single polystyrene thin film is studied using Flash differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for aging temperatures ranging from 50.5 to 100.5 °C and for aging times of up to 18,000 s (300 min). A high fictive temperature glass with T f ′ = 117.0 ± 0.5 °C, obtained after cooling at 1000 K/s, is employed in this study. Structural recovery is investigated by monitoring the evolution of the fictive temperature, T f , which initially remains unchanged and then decreases smoothly and approximately linearly with logarithmic aging time. Equilibrium is reached when T f = T a at the highest aging temperatures. The length of the initial plateau is longer for the lower aging temperatures and is related to the increase in the relaxation time with decreasing temperature along the glass line, increasing approximately one decade for every 21 K. This temperature dependence yields a normalized apparent activation energy (E a /R) of approximately 13 kK for the mobility along the glass line. On the other hand, the apparent activation energy for the mobility along the liquid line is 102 kK.

The branched ionic liquids (ILs) 1-(iso-alkyl)-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethane)sulfonyl]amide ([(N – 2)mCN-1C1im][NTf2] with N = 3–7) were synthesized and their physicochemical properties characterized and compared with the properties of linear ILs 1-(n-alkyl)-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethane)sulfonyl]amide ([CNC1im][NTf2] with N = 3–7). For N = 4–7, the density of the branched IL [(N – 2)mCN–1C1im][NTf2] is the same as that of its linear analogue [CNC1im][NTf2] within the standard uncertainty of the measurements. In the case of the N = 3 [1mC2C1im][NTf2]/[C3C1im][NTf2] pair, the density of the branched IL is 0.13% higher than that of the linear IL. For a branched/linear IL pair with a given N, the glass transition temperature Tg, melting temperature Tm, and viscosity η are higher for the branched IL than for the linear IL. [2mC3C1im][NTf2] is an exception in that its Tm is lower than that of [C4C1im][NTf2]. Moreover, the viscosity of [2mC3C1im][NTf2] is anomalously higher than what wou...

The thermal properties of bulk and nanoconfined HMX were studied using differential scanning calorimetry in dynamic scanning mode at rates ranging from 0.3 to 100 °C/min. At the slowest heating rates, decomposition occurs in the solid phase; at intermediate heating rates, it starts in the solid phase, melts, and finishes with a faster rate of reaction in the liquid state; and at the highest heating rates, the decomposition is entirely in the liquid phase. The activation energy decreases with conversion and is highest for 12 nm-diameter pores. The decomposition reaction is accelerated for nanoconfined HMX compared to the bulk with the onset of decomposition decreased by 1–5 °C in 50 nm-diameter pores and by 4–11 °C in 12 nm-diameter pores. The kinetics of decomposition is well described by a first-order autocatalytic reaction model with the reaction rate constants increasing with nanoconfinement. In addition, the reaction rate constant is one order of magnitude higher in the melt state than in the solid state.

The friction and wear behavior of palladium (Pd)-rich amorphous alloy (Pd43Cu27Ni10P20) against 440C stainless steel under ionic liquids as lubricants, i.e., 1-nonyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethane)sulfonyl]amide ([C9C1im][NTf2]), were investigated using a ball-on-disc reciprocating tribometer at ambient, 100 and 200 &deg, C with different sliding speeds of 3 and 7 mm/s, whose results were compared to those from crystalline Pd samples. The measured coefficient of friction (COF) and wear were affected by both temperature and sliding speed. The COF of crystalline Pd samples dramatically increased when the temperature increased, whereas the COF of the amorphous Pd alloy samples remained low. As the sliding speed increased, the COF of both Pd samples showed decreasing trends. From the analysis of a 3D surface profilometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) data, three types of wear (i.e., delamination, adhesive, and abrasive wear) were observed on the crystalline Pd surfaces, whereas the amorphous Pd alloy surfaces produced abrasive wear only. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were performed to study the formation of tribofilm. It was found that the chemical reactivity at the contacting interface increased with temperature and sliding contact speed. The ionic liquids (ILs) were effective as lubricants when the applied temperature and sliding speed were 200 &deg, C and 7 mm/s, respectively.

Enthalpy recovery of a single polystyrene thin film is quantified by both experiments using Flash DSC and mode- ling using a new modified TNM model. Experimental data include Kovacs’ three signatures of structural recovery: intrinsic isotherms after temperature down jumps, the asymmetry of approach after temperature down and up jumps of the same size, and the mem- ory effect after a two-step history. A new modified TNM model is proposed to quantitatively fit all three signatures of structural recovery with a single set of model parameters. Here, we eluci- date the detailed derivation of the new modified model and dem- onstrate its applicability to the experimental Flash DSC results

The kinetics of the glass transition are measured for a single polystyrene ultrathin film of 20 nm thickness using Flash differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Tg is measured over a range of cooling rates from 0.1 to 1000 K/s and is depressed compared to the bulk. The depression decreases with increasing cooling rate, from 12 K lower than the bulk at 0.1 K/s to no significant change at 1000 K/s. Isothermal enthalpy recovery measurements are performed from 50 to 115 °C, and from these experiments, the temperature dependence of the induction time along the glass line is obtained, as well as the temperature dependence of the time scale required to reach equilibrium, providing a measure of the shortest effective glassy relaxation time and the longest effective equilibrium relaxation time, respectively. The induction time for the ultrathin film is found to be similar to the bulk at all temperatures presumably because the Tg values are the same due to the use of a cooling rate of 1000 K/s prior to the enthalp...

Rapid scanning chip calorimetry is a very useful tool for studying the glass transition and the related enthalpy relaxation kinetics. In this chapter, we review the practical aspects of making fictive temperature and enthalpy recovery measurements, including for ultrathin samples. The cooling rate dependence of the glass transition is discussed, as well as the Tg depression for ultrathin polystyrene and polycarbonate samples. The advantages of the short instrument response time and high cooling rates can be particularly exploited for enthalpy recovery measurements, and these are discussed in detail.