Free volume in plasticized polyvinyl chloride

Positron lifetimes measurements in pure polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and in the plasticized PVC have been performed. Dioctyl phthalate has been used as a plasticizer. Samples have been prepared of the PVC with eight different plasticizer concentrations (from 0 to 35% of the plasticizer in the PVC). All of the measurements have been performed in air at room temperature. A conventional fast-slow coincidence lifetime spectrometer has been used for the measurements. Mean free volumes radii have been calculated from the lifetime data. It has been found that the mean free volumes radii are in the investigated region of plasticizer concentrations a linear function of the concentration of the dioctyl phthalate in the PVC. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.