Variation in optical density during latex film formation: interdiffusion of fluorescence labelled polymers

Abstract

Abstract Steady state fluorescence was used to examine the interdiffusion of polymer molecules during annealing of a latex film at and above the glass transition temperature. The film was prepared from a mixture of poly(methyl methacrylate) latex particles labelled with naphthalene (donor) and pyrene (acceptor). It was observed that the optical density (index of refraction) of the latex film changed considerably during the annealing process. Donor and acceptor intensities were required to compensate for this effect. The activation energy for polymer chain interdiffusion was found to be 34 kcal mol−1.