Multiple relaxation in α- and γ-loss bands of polyethylene

Dielectric and NMR behavior of linear polyethylene was observed in the α-and γ-loss bands in order to investigate the nature of the multiple loss patterns of these loss bands. The results obtained are compared with those of mechanical measurements. In the dielectric behavior of oxidized linear polyethylene, three relaxations are found in the γ-loss band, while only one relaxation is found in the α-loss band. The β-relaxation is found as a plateau region between the α-and γ-loss bands. The loss pattern of the α-loss band is different from that for the mechanical case which is composed of three relaxations. The effects of difference in morphology, addition of diluent, and heat treatment on the multiple loss patterns are examined. The results suggest that there are two noncrystalline regions in the exterior part of lamellae, including lamellar surfaces, and the two modes of molecular motion in each of these regions are responsible for each pair of relaxations; of the three relaxations found in the γ-loss band the γ2-relaxation is related to the dielectric α-relaxation, while the γ1-relaxation is related to the β-relaxation. The relation between the two relaxations in each pair is similar to that between the primary relaxation due to micro-Brownian motion and the local mode relaxation of amorphous polymers which are caused by the two modes of motion of the same molecules. The γ3-relaxation seems to be caused by some different mechanism.