The lifetimes and intensities of positron states in several solid polymers as an indication of structure

Positrons which penetrate and become trapped in polymeric solids form states which display complex annihilation time spectra. The average lifetimes and intensities of the posiltron states can be obtained from the exponentially decaying components of the time spectra. Usually three components can be resolved for solid polymers; with long, Intermediate and short average lifetimes. Experimental results of lifetimes and intensities for positrons annihilating in trans 1–4 polybutadiene, polyethylene, polyethyleneterephthalate are used to conclude that the intensity can be associated with regions of short range order and the intermediate lifetime and intensity with regions of long range order. It is also concluded that for both regions of long range and short range order there is a tightening of the microstructure in the polymer as the amount of long range order increases and/or molecular weight decreases.