Evaluation of Polymer Degradation Using Chemiluminescence Imaging

本项目将研究聚合物自氧化反应机制的横向变化。第一步是对几种聚合物在稳态、自催化和自氧化的限氧阶段进行化学发光（极低强度光发射）成像调查。其他横向分辨分析技术将用于将聚合物属性与机制非均质性联系起来。短暂的紫外线照射将用于刺激聚合物的化学发光。在受激化学发光松弛到稳态强度的横向变化将被检查。横向分辨测量玻璃-凝胶转变温度的能力将得到发展。所使用的分析方法将与聚合物老化有关，并用于开发聚合物失效预测模型。该研究产生的一种潜在的新仪器将提供非破坏性的现场测试来预测聚合物材料的使用寿命。

This project will investigate lateral variation in the polymer autoxidation reaction mechanism. The first step is a chemiluminescence (very low intensity light emission) imaging survey of several polymers in the steady state, autocatalytic and oxygen limited stages of autoxidation. Other laterally resolved analytical techniques will be used to relate polymer attributes to the mechanistic heterogeneity. Brief ultraviolet irradiation will be used to stimulate polymer chemiluminescence. Lateral variations in relaxation of the stimulated chemiluminescence to steady state intensity will be examined. The capability for laterally resolved measurement of the glass-to-gel transition temperature will be developed. The analytical methods used will be related to polymer aging and used to develop polymer failure prediction models. A potential new instrument resulting from the research would provide non-destructive field testing to predict useful service life of polymeric materials.