The Corset Effect, Field-Cycling NMR Relaxometry, Transverse NMR Relaxation, Field-Gradient NMR Diffusometry, and Incoherent Neutron Scattering

TL;DR

This paper discusses the corset effect, a dynamic confinement phenomenon observed in polymer melts within nanoscale pores, detected through specific NMR relaxometry techniques sensitive to rotational fluctuations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the corset effect can be observed using field-cycling and transverse NMR relaxometry, highlighting the limitations of neutron scattering for detecting this phenomenon.

Findings

The corset effect occurs in polymer melts confined in nanometer-scale pores.

NMR relaxometry techniques are effective in detecting the corset effect.

Neutron scattering is not suitable for observing the corset effect.

Abstract

The corset effect is an experimentally established dynamic confinement phenomenon first observed by field-cycling NMR relaxometry and transverse NMR relaxation in polymer melts in pores with dimensions ranging from a few nanometers up to 0.06 micrometers or even more. The techniques employed are specifically sensitive to rotational fluctuations of polymer segments. It will be shown that neutron scattering and other methods probing translational fluctuations are not suitable for the detection of this phenomenon.