Water sorption and thermally stimulated depolarization currents in nylon-6
(EN)
Frank, B
(EN)
Frubing, P
(EN)
Pissis, P
(EN)
The influence of water on the low temperature dielectric relaxations of nylon-6 has been investigated in the range from dry to water-saturated polymer by means of sorption experiments and thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC). Three different ranges of water sorption are observed and their reflection in the TSDC spectra is examined. It is found that position and intensity of the TSDC maxima exhibit characteristic and different behavior in each of these sorption ranges. The critical concentrations are 1.5 +/- 0.5% and 6.0 +/- 0.5% water content. An interpretation of the experimental results is given with respect to the molecular origins of the low-temperature dielectric relaxations and the mechanisms of water sorption in nylons. The most important idea is that water exists as firmly bound, loosely bound, and clustered water, depending on its concentration. An attempt is made to determine relations between these different states of water in nylon-6 and some characteristic features of the low-temperature TSDC spectrum. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
(EN)
