Pressure effects on the vibrational spectra of amorphous polystyrene. I. Line shape, line width, and intensity

Vibrational spectra of amorphous polystyrene were determined at room temperature as a function of pressure. A sodium chloride high-pressure cell was used to generate pressures up to 40 kbars. Considerable changes in line shape, line width, and intensity were observed in the spectra. In contrast, the former two changes are absent in crystalline polyethylene. The physical basis of pressure effects on line width, line shape, and intensity of the vibra-tional spectra of amorphous polystyrene is discussed.