Dielectric relaxation of polymers: segmental dynamics under structural constraints

Abstract

In this article we review the recent polymer literature where dielectric spectroscopy has been used to investigate the segmental dynamics of polymers under the constraints produced by self-structuring. Specifically, we consider three cases: (i) semicrystalline polymers, (ii) segregated block-copolymers, and (iii) asymmetric miscible polymer blends. In these three situations the characteristics of the dielectric relaxation associated with the polymer segmental dynamics are markedly affected by the constraints imposed by the corresponding structural features. After reviewing in detail each of the polymer systems, the most common aspects are discussed in the context of the use of dielectric relaxation as a sensitive tool for analyzing structural features in nanostructured polymer systems.