Investigation of Mechanical Deformation in Rigid Polymers by 2D Solid-State NMR Imaging

The use of two-dimensional solid-state NMR imaging for probing variations in the local molecular mobility in cold-drawn rigid polymers is shown. A magic-echo-based 2D solid-state NMR imaging sequence is used that has been supplemented by a T2e relaxation−filter sequence for probing mobility contrast. It is applied for the investigation of polycarbonate samples that have been drawn under different conditions. Characteristic regions of chain immobilization caused by the mechanical treatment are mapped by NMR parameter images, and the results are compared with polarization microscopy images.