Behavior of an Aromatic Heterocyclic Polymer in Salt Solution.
Abstract
The addition of lithium chloride (LiCl) to solutions of poly(5,5'bibenzimidaole-2,2'diyl-1,3 phenylene) (PBI) and N,N dimethylacetamide (DMAC) resulted in the expansion of the PBI molecule in solution. This expansion was owing to the association of lithium and/or chloride ions in the region of the nitrogen atoms on the polymer chain. The presence of these ions expanded the polymer chain by means of electrostatic repulsion. This effect was reflected in the results of conductivity and viscosity studies. In general, LiCl can be used for both increased solubility and increased viscosity for this polymer-solvent system. A ratio of 0.125 gram of LiCl per of PBI was determined to be the optimum amount of LiCl to be added. This amount corresponds to one mole of LiCl for every mole of PBI repeat unit. The PBI molecule was determined to have entanglements in concentrated solution at every 27 or 28 molecules along the polymer chain. This length between the entanglements is very low in comparison to other polymers, indicating a strongly interacting system. The chain length between entanglements was approximately the same for both PBI-DMAC and PBI-LiCl-DMAC solutions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA134865
Entities
People
- C. L. Benner
- T. E. Helminiak
- T. R. Hanely
Organizations
- Wright Laboratory