Theory of Orientation and Double Refraction in Polymers

Abstract

Orientation and birefringence in linearly oriented amorphous polymers are discussed with particular emphasis on polystyrene type chains. A system of completely uncoiled parallel zigzag chains is defined as 100 percent orientation. The variation of birefringence with orientation is assumed to follow the same expression as that for the variation of polarizationanisotropy with extension for a single random coil chain. With these assumptions and reasonable models for the completely uncoiled polystyrene chain it is possible to express any given birefringence as a percentage orientation. Methods are developed for the experimental determination of the birefringence at a particular point in an oriented monofilament instead of the usual determination of an average birefringence through the monofilament. The application of these methods to actual examples leads to reasonable values of the orientation.