Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of the Polymeric Amorphous Phase

Abstract

The characterization of the crystalline phase of semicrystalline polymers in terms of chain order and morphology has made considerable progress using diffraction and microscopic techniques. Characterization of the amorphous phase in terms of chain structure and conformation has been limited. Consequently, our knowledge of the amorphous phase for many polymeric systems is lacking. This is highly undesirable since many of the processes which are of interest (crystallization, diffusion, swelling, etc. ) are initiated in the amorphous phase.