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The glass transition temperature of polystyrene

Results of a round robin test

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Abstract

A round robin test was performed to determine the reliability of values for the glass transition temperatureT g as determined by DTA on polymers. Ten different instruments were involved. The test material was high molecular weight polystyrene. Values forT g (midpoint) were reported in the range 107°C±2 K. The respective heat flow curves differed considerably in shape. In the literature aT g of 100°C is often given for polystyrene. The discrepancy between this value and the value of 107°C found in the round robin test is due to three differences: the thermal history of the sample, the evaluation of the heat flow curves, and the effect of finite sample size.

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Dedicated to Professor Bernhard Wunderlich on the occasion of his 65th birthday

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Rieger, J. The glass transition temperature of polystyrene. Journal of Thermal Analysis 46, 965–972 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01983614

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01983614

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