Influence of deformation and chemical structure on elementary free volumesin glassy polymers

In the scope of the mechanism of positronium formation in polymers before t rapping by elementary free volumes (EFV), we demonstrate an approach to qua ntitative analyses of experimental results. Correspondingly, a relation bet ween the EFV concentration and annihilation characteristics (lifetimes and intensities) is derived. We use PATFIT and CONTIN analyses of positron anni hilation lifetime spectra and obtain information on some heterogeneity of t he structure of glassy polymers and on the mechanism of the plastic flow of glassy material. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.