Pressure‐induced freezing of conformational states of poly(vinyl chloride)

Abstract

Abstract The pressure‐induced freezing of high‐energy conformations ( trans‐gauche ) of poly(vinyl chloride) has been measured by FTIR absorbance spectroscopy. The conformational change predicted from the increase in T g with pressure and the change in population (absorbance) with temperature is larger than the observed change in population (absorbance). This difference is of the right order of magnitude as that predicted from the volume difference between conformers which favors the trans isomer at high pressure. Samples prepared at high pressure recover to their equilibrium population at the normal zero‐pressure glass temperature when heated with no applied pressure.