Impedance spectroscopy of reactive polymers. 5. Impedance as a measure of chemical and physical changes in glass formers

A study was conducted aimed at establishing the nature of chemical and physical phenomena in polymeric and nonpolymeric glass formers that can be observed by impedance measurements. Various systems were investigated that undergo a temporal evolution of structure as a result of chemical reactions and physical processes such as crystallization, vitrification, or phase separation. Distinct and systematic changes in impedance during crystallization and vitrification confirmed that these events could be monitored by impedance spectroscopy. Of particular interest was the potential use of impedance measurements in detecting gelation in crosslinking polymers. It was shown that the experimentally observed "knee" in imaginary impedance during reaction shifts with frequency and, hence, cannot be used to measure gelation. But a new insight at the molecular level was obtained by employing a novel experimental approach based on simultaneous dielectric-infrared measurements. Evidence was generated to support the formation of a hydrogen-bonded complex in the vicinity of gel point in polymer networks, which affords a vehicle for the migration of intrinsic charges and provides a contribution to the overall conductivity. This finding should be explored further because it suggests the possibility of correlating dielectric response with gelation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Impedance spectroscopy of reactive polymers. 3. Correlations between dielectric, spectroscopic, and rheological properties during cure of a trifunctional epoxy resin

An investigation was carried out of correlations between dielectric, vibrational spectroscopic, and rheological properties during cure of a thermoset formulation composed of trifunctional epoxy resin and tetrafunctional amine. Experimental techniques utilized include impedance spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, steady shear, and dynamic mechanical measurements. Reaction kinetics obtained from dielectric and spectroscopic results were in excellent agreement. Gelation and vitrification times determined by dielectric and rheological measurements were also found to agree very well, despite the empirical nature of such correlations. A characteristic pattern in plots of imaginary impedance as a function of reaction time was reported for the first time in the open literature, and it was suggested that it could be used to identify gelation and vitrification during the network formation. A realization of the full potential of dielectric impedance spectroscopy in monitoring the progress of chemophysical changes in reactive polymers, however, hinges upon a development of fundamental scientific correlations between dielectric and chemorheological phenomena during cure. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Dynamic temperature field in the ferromagnetic plate induced by moving high frequency inductor

The subject of the paper is the temperature distribution in the thin metallic ferromagnetic plate influenced by moving linear high frequency induction heater. As a result of high frequency electromagnetic field, conducting currents appear in the part of the plate. Distribution of the eddy-current power across the plate thickness is obtained by use of complex analysis. The influences of the heater frequency, magnetic field intensity and plate thickness on the heat power density were discussed. By treating this power as a moving heat source, differential equations governing distribution of the temperature field are formulated. Temperature across the plate thickness is assumed to be in linear form. Differential equations are analytically solved by using integral-transform technique, Fourier finite-sine and finite-cosine transform and Laplace transform. The influence of the heater velocity to the plate temperature is presented on numerical examples based on theoretically obtained results