Effect of Thermal Conditions on the Cluster Formation of Sulfonated Polystyrene Ionomers

摘要

The effect of thermal conditions on the clustering of sulfonated polystyrene ionomers was investigated. It was found that when the zinc-sulfonated ionomer was dried above a matrix glass transition temperature (Tg), the cluster Tg was observed at ca. 310 ∩, which is ca. 45 ∩ higher than that for the ionomer dried below the matrix Tg. This difference is believed to be the result of the increase in chain mobility at higher temperatures, which improves the multiplet formation and clustering; thus the cluster Tg increases. In the lithium ionomer case, however, the increase in the cluster Tg was ca. 6 ∩ upon annealing. From the results, it was suggested that in the zinc ionomer, the zinc ion is soft and divalent, which results in weaker interactions in multiplets, and thus decreases the stability of the multiplets. Therefore, the thermal effect is more significant for the zinc ionomers than for the lithium ionomers.