The absence of physical aging effects on the relaxation of rubbing-induced birefringence in polystyrene

We found, through extensive experimental studies, that the physical aging effects are absent in the relaxation of rubbing-induced birefringence (RIB) in polystyrene (PS), and the relaxation involves very small length scale. A phenomenological model based on individual birefringence elements is propo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The European physical journal. E, Soft matter and biological physics Soft matter and biological physics, 2007-12, Vol.24 (4), p.385-397
Main Authors: SHIU, K. P, ZONGYI QIN, YANG, Z
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Computer Simulation
Exact sciences and technology
Friction
Materials Testing
Models, Chemical
Organic polymers
Physical Stimulation - methods
Physicochemistry of polymers
Polystyrenes - chemistry
Properties and characterization
Refractometry - methods
Thermal and thermodynamic properties
Time Factors
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Summary:We found, through extensive experimental studies, that the physical aging effects are absent in the relaxation of rubbing-induced birefringence (RIB) in polystyrene (PS), and the relaxation involves very small length scale. A phenomenological model based on individual birefringence elements is proposed for the RIB relaxation. The relaxation times (RTs) of the elements are found to be independent of the thermal or stress history of the samples, either before or after the formation of the birefringence. The RTs are also independent of the molecular weight, rubbing conditions, and film thickness, while the RTs distribution function does depend on the molecular weight and rubbing conditions. The model provides quantitative interpretations that agree very well with all the reported experimental results, and sheds important light on the novel behaviors of the RIB relaxation. The absence of physical aging effects is probably due to the combined effects of small length scale of the RIB relaxation, and the accelerated aging speed in the near surface region in which the RIB concentrates.
ISSN:1292-8941
1292-895X
DOI:10.1140/epje/i2007-10251-y