Low-temperature relaxations in amorphous polyolefins

The dynamic mechanical relaxation behavior (1cps) of two series of amorphous polyolefins, ─(CH2)mC(CH3)2─ and ─(CH2)mC(CH3)(CH2 CH3)─ where m = 1, 2, 3 was investigated from 4.2°K to the glass transition. Most of the polymers show a damping maximum or pleateau in the 40 to 50°K region. Various mechanisms which have been suggested for cryogenic relaxations in amorphous polymers are considered as they might relate to the polyolefins. Two secondary relaxation processes above 80°K are distinguished. A relaxation at about 160°K (β) in the second and third member of each series is associated with restricted backbone motion. This process requires a certain degree of chain flexibility since it is not observed in the first member of each series. A lower Temperature process (γ) is observed in each member of the second series and is attributed to motion of the ethyl side group.