Thermally stimulated discharge currents from polystyrene‐chloranil complex

Abstract

Abstract Transitions in a polystyrene‐chloranil molecular complex have been analyzed by thermally stimulated discharge (TSD) current measurements. Peaks have been observed in the current spectra at 79 (α), 128 (ρ), and at 36°C (β). These peaks are attributed to the following mechanisms: the α peak to the randomization of dipoles at the glass–rubber transition, the ρ peak to the release of space charges via long‐range molecular motions at the liquid–liquid transition, and the β peak to the torsional vibrations of the phenyl side group. A high‐temperature treatment is found to narrow the distribution of the α relaxation and removes the ρ peak from the TSD spectrum. Repeated TSD runs on the same sample have been found to generate charges which give a small peak at 141°C. Absorbed water is found to shift the β and α relaxations to 39 and 91°C. Activation energy, relaxation time, and relaxation constant have been calculated for the α relaxation by the method of Bucci et al. The calculated values of activation energies have been compared with those reported in the literature for pure polystyrene.