Study of Molecular Orientation in Polymers by Fluorescence Polarization

Abstract

The morphology of a polymeric system determines to a large extent the ultimate physical properties of the polymer. With such importance placed upon polymer structure, it is not surprising that many physical methods have been used over the years to measure the molecular orientation of polymers. Spectroscopy is one of those tools which has been applied to the characterization of polymers. A spectroscopist can gather three types of information: (1) the band’s frequency, (2) the band’s intensity and contour, and (2) the band’s state of polarization. (Polarization concerns the direction of the electric vector of the radiation with respect to the direction of the particular transition moment in question.) Obviously, a considerable amount of information can be obtained from the first two types of data. This paper discusses the usefulness of the third type of data — measurement of the state of polarization of the interacting radiation.