Study of polymer film formation and their characterization using NMR, XRD and DSC

Film formation and their characterization of three eco-friendly polymers, namely gelatin, starch and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) were studied using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), wide-angle X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Polymer solutions were prepared using water as a solvent followed by casting. The drying process of the cast sample was monitored at room temperature with a single-sided NMR scanner until complete solidification occurred. Depth-dependent NMR profiles with microscopic resolution were acquired at different stages of sample drying. Each profile point was accumulated from the echo decay. Spin-spin relaxation times (T2 ) were measured from the echo decays at different layers and were correlated with the drying process during film formation. Additionally, spin-lattice relaxation times ( T1) were determined. Depending on the polymer studied and the initial concentration of each polymer, different types of molecular dynamics were observed at different heights during evaporation of the solvent. The study indicates that each polymer shows a spatial heterogeneity in the molecular dynamics during drying. In the advanced stage of drying process, the microscopic arrangement of the polymer chains during their solidification is influenced by this dynamic heterogeneity and determines the final structure of the film. XRD of the film in its final state confirmed the structural heterogeneity identified by the NMR.