Recording relaxation transitions in polymers by the simultaneous measurement of radiothermoluminescence and the current of thermostimulated depolarization

Abstract

A method was proposed for recording relaxation transitions in polymer materials, which is based on the simultaneous measurement of the intensity of radiothermoluminescence and the current of thermostimulated depolarization. This method was used to record relaxation transitions in polyethylene, polytetrafluorethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene in a wide range of temperature from 77°K to melting point. Mechanisms of radiothermoluminescence and the current of thermostimulated depolarization in polymers were dealt with and the possibility of using these methods for recording relaxation transitions, explained. The method proposed was used for the study of relaxation transitions in new polymer materials based on epoxy-novolak block copolymers in the temperature range of 77–400°K. It was established that the relaxation transition in the temperature range of 320–380°K is due to the glass transition of these copolymers.