Quantitative NMR characterization of long-range chain dynamics prior to reptation: Polyethylene-oxide

The thorough analysis of the transverse magnetic relaxation of protons, attached to highly entangled polyethylene-oxide chains in the melt, reveals two striking chain-length dependent properties; these are interpreted from the description (reminiscent of the Rouse model) of the long-range chain dynamics supposed to occur prior to the reptation motion. Experimental results are well matched by this specific NMR approach which accounts for the novel properties and provides the monomeric friction coefficient and the terminal relaxation time, over the molecular weight range 65K to 760K.