OBSERVATION OF ENERGY DISSIPATION PEAK IN POLYSTYRENE MELT ABOVE Tg

In this paper two different kinds of dynamic mechanical techniques (inversed torsion pendulum and energy dissipation apparatus) were used to study the dynamic behavior of atactic monodisperse polystyrene above glass transition.The plots of energy dissipation versus temperature were presented for two atactic polystyrene samples. An apparent energy dissipation peak occurred above Tg in each plot measured by the inversed torsion pendulum, and simultaneously the sample was found to flow assuredly at the moment. To exclude the influence of the flow and demonstrate there was a peak indeed above Tg, the energy dissipation apparatus was used, in which the samples were put into a cup. An obvious peak appeared,and it was in agreement with the peak observed by the inversed torsion pendulum. On basis of the results measured by the two kinds of apparatus, a conclusion is drawn that a peak occurrs above Tg, which gives a manifestation for the existence of the liquid-liquid transition.