Free Volume Size Distribution in Some Natural Polymers

Abstract

Positron lifetime technique was used to determine the size distribution of free volume holes in some natural polymers–animal hair, feather, cotton and silk. The effect of fiber swelling on the nature of size distribution was also monitored. The obtained positron lifetime spectra were analyzed by using the computer program CONTIN (PALS‐2). Significant differences in the size distribution were observed for these biological polymers (and even among the different animal hair types), possibly due to the structural differences, which have not been investigated hitherto.