MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY.

Abstract

Most research concerning synthetic polymers is aimed toward improving their useful material properties. To do this systematically requires an understanding of molecular-level influences on macroscopic behavior. Chemical structure, morphology, orientation, and chain dynamics are known to have important effects on bulk material properties, and these have all been characterized by various forms of molecular spectroscopy. Despite such efforts a complete understanding of the relationship between macroscopic and microscopic properties does not yet exist. The following topics are covered: high resolution C-13 NMR of solid polymers; formation of networks in crosslinked polymers; polymer crystal structure; IR spectroscopy; comparison of FTIR with dispersive IR spectroscopy; least squares curve fitting for quantitative analysis; and spectroscopic techniques using FTIR.