RATE THEORY AND COOPERATIVE STRUCTURAL RELAXATION IN AMORPHOUS POLYMER BLENDS AS REVEALED BY A THERMAL SAMPLING STUDY

The thermal sampling technique is applied to investigate relaxation pr ocesses in amorphous blends and it was found that a distribution proce ss exists. The relaxation kinetics are interpreted in terms of rate th eory. A linear relation between activation enthalpy and entropy values is obtained, indicating that the compensation law is valid. The compe nsation plot revealed that the energy of the blend relaxation process comprises not only the energy required to move the segments along the reaction path but also the energy required to create these segments.