Citation

Hu Zhou, Jiachun Feng, and Peiyi Wu*. Intermediate States in the Melting Process of Low Molecular Weight Poly(ethylene oxide). Appl. Spectrosc. 2009, 63, 1303-1307.

Abstract

The melting behavior of low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) fractions has been studied via generalized two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) correlation spectroscopy and a new stochastic-pulse-based temperature modulation differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique (TOPEM®). 2D-IR correlation analysis of the melting of PEO shows that vs(CH2) and γa(CH2) vary prior to vs(COC). Moreover, the TOPEM® experiments show that reversible melting and crystallization is occurring during the melting of PEO. These suggest that the melting of PEO is possibly a process passing over intermediate states. Based on our results, a model of the melting process of PEO lamellae is presented: the intermediate states containing the distorted helical conformation are formed first at the front of the lamellae during the melting process.