Stress-optical behaviour of trans-1,5-polypentenamer

The stress-optical behaviour of crosslinked trans-1,5-polypentenamer (TPR) in the unswollen and the swollen state was investigated and the results were compared with the data for other elastomers. The optical anisotropy of the statistical segment was found to be 5.6 × 10^?24 cm³ at 50°C. The number of chemical bonds in the main chain per statistical segment, a measure of the chain stiffness, was 5.6. From the comparison of the data in the unswollen and swollen state an estimate for the short range orientational order in the bulk polymer was made. The mean aggregate size of 1.6 at 50°C is relatively high compared to natural rubber.