Isotope Effect on the Melting Temperature of Nonpolar Polymers

F. S. Bates, H. D. Keith, D. B. Mcwhan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

The isomorphous monoclinic (Oil) forms of “normal” (hydrogenated) and perdeuteriated hexatriacontanes (n-C36H74and n-C36D74) have been examined by X-ray diffraction at room temperature. Substitution of deuterium for hydrogen results in slight reduction in the parameters α8= a sin β and b of the orthorhombic subcell by 0.33 ± 0.02% and 0.19 ± 0.02%, respectively (within experimental error the c parameter appears to be unaffected). This reduction in cross-sectional area of the unit cell as seen in projection along the chain axis is primarily a consequence of C-D being slightly shorter than C-H bonds. Based upon the change in molecular volume, and an associated change in molecular polarizability, a relationship is proposed to account for the difference in melting temperatures of normal and perdeuteriated hexatriacontane. This relationship also predicts successfully corresponding differences in melting temperature occasioned by perdeuteriation of polyethylene and isotactic polystyrene but fails to do so in the case of isotactic polypropylene. We speculate that, in the latter case, isotope substitution influences rotational degrees of freedom of pendant methyl groups, leading to an isotope-dependent entropy of melting not experienced in the other species cited.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3065-3070
Number of pages6
JournalMacromolecules
Volume20
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 1987

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