Multiple Relaxations in Poly (p-hydroxybenzoic acid-CO-ethylene terephthalate) Liquid Crystal Polymer: TSD Current Investigations

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe PET/x.PHB samples were polarized at different temperatures (30-250°C) under various biasing fields ranging from 40 to 200 kV/ cm. The TSD currents were obtained at a heating rate of 2 °C/min in the temperature range (15-250)°C. The TSD current spectra in general comprise of three maxima namely β, α and δ in ascending order of temperature. However number of peaks actually appearing in these spectra, their location, height and sharpness are governed by polarization/depolarization parameters as well as the value of ‘x’ in a particular sample. The β peak appearing around (110-140°C) has been recognized as a dipolar relaxation process and is due to PET rich phase. The α- peak (160-180°C) recognized as space charge process is due to PHB rich phase and cold crystallization of PET rich phase. The δ peak (190-210°C) is a melting process due to the movement of large segments leading to Smectic-E like phase. In addition PET/x.PHB also exhibit a weak low temperature dipolar relaxation process β′ peak around (30-40)°C. In the vicinity of α-relaxation a rigid amorphous phase dipolar relaxation process γ relaxation is also observed.