Conformation of poly(ethylene oxide) in the solid state, melt and solution measured by Raman scattering

Abstract

The Raman spectrum of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) M ̄ w = 3 × 10 6 and 6 × 10 3 has been measured in bulk as a function of temperature and in aqueous and chloroform solution as a function of solvent concentration. The spectral features are assigned to particular isomeric configurations and the changes on melting are found to be consistent with a helix-coil transition. In both solvents the ordered nature of the polymer is largely lost at a critical concentration, approximately 50% by weight; residual ordering in dilute aqueous solution is lost and the random coil configuration attained only above the melting temperature. The wavenumber change of the 862 cm −1 mode as a function of water concentration showed formation of a complex involving three water molecules and was consistent with a simple H-bonding model. The differences between the spectra in the two solvents are explained by this H-bonding. The results are in general agreement with n.m.r. work.