Investigation of mechanical deformation in rigid polymers by 2D solid-state NMR imaging

The use of two-dimensional solid-state NMR imaging for probing variations i n the local molecular mobility in cold-drawn rigid polymers is shown. A mag ic-echo-based 2D solid-state NMR imaging sequence is used that has been sup plemented by a T-2e relaxation-filter sequence for probing mobility contras t. It is applied for the investigation of polycarbonate samples that have b een drawn under different conditions. Characteristic regions of chain immob ilization caused by the mechanical treatment are mapped by NMR parameter im ages, and the results are compared with polarization microscopy images.