The study of polystyrene-fullerene solid-phase composites

Polystyrene-based films containing from 0 to 45 mol % of C-60 fullerene are investigated. It is found that the introduction of fullerene increases the molecular packing density of polystyrene chains, thus affecting the transport of small molecules through the polymer films. Gas diffusion through the composite films is slower than through the polystyrene films, while the gas-distributing properties of the composites are higher. The dielectric relaxation method shows that the solution-grown films retain the cluster state of fullerene. When the films containing more than 0.15 mol % of fullerene are heated above the glass transition temperature of polystyrene away from air, the relaxation time of the alpha transition in polystyrene is found to increase. This effect is associated with strong chain interaction via fullerene molecules incorporated into polystyrene-C-60 complexes. The NMR spectroscopy method allows us to observe the typical changes in the composites. (C) 2002 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".