ESR Studies on the Molecular Motion of the Broken End of Polyoxymethylene

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the ESRline shape of the polyoxymethylene radical ∼CH2–O–H2C· is observed. In order to estimate the linewidths of the observed spectra, the spectra are simulated by using the computer, based on the theory of the line shape of an amorphous sample. The correlation times are determined from the empirical linewidths thus obtained, and the activation energy for the motion of the broken end of the polyoxymethylene molecule is evaluated from the temperature variation of the linewidth. The motion of the broken end is discussed in relation to the other types of molecular motion of the polyoxymethylene molecule.