The low temperature Fourier Transform Raman spectrum of polystyrenes

In a previous paper (Jones and Wesley, Spectrochimica Acta 47A (9/10), 1293 (1991)) the Fourier Transform (FT) Raman spectra of various polystyrenes were presented and differences in the spectra in terms of the configuration, conformation and crystallinity of the samples were discussed. In this paper the low temperature FT Raman spectra of polystyrenes are presented. The differences between the spectra as a function of temperature and crystallinity are discussed. It is clear that, although lowering the temperature is advantageous in improving the quality of the spectra, crystallinity is the key to quality in the spectra. Isomeric purity alone seems to be far less advantageous. It is proposed that the band near 1000 cm⁻¹ in this system can be used to estimate the crystallinity. The paper concludes with some comments on the very slow crystallization rate of typical isotactic polystyrene.