Elucidation of the chain conformation in a glassy polyester, PET, by two-dimensional NMR.

Schmidt-Rohr, K; Hu, W; Zumbulyadis, N · Science · 1998

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The chain conformation of glassy poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was characterized by two-dimensional double-quantum nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In amorphous carbon-13-labeled PET, the statistics of the O-13CH2-13CH2-O torsion angle were determined, on the basis of the distinct shapes of the two-dimensional NMR patterns of trans and gauche conformations. In crystalline PET, the trans content is 100 percent, but in the amorphous PET it is only 14 percent (+/-5 percent). An average gauche torsion angle of 70 degrees (+/-9 degrees) was obtained. Implications for materials properties of polyesters are discussed.