Effect of the side chain structure on the glass transition temperature. Part 4. Molecular weight dependence of T_g in chalcogenides containing poly(methacrylates)

Glass transition temperature T_g has been measured by DSC for several fractions of poly(benzylmethacrylate) (PBzM), poly(2-thienylmethyl methacrylate) (PTiM) and poly(2-selenolylmethyl methacrylate) (PSeM) and for one fraction of poly(2-furfurylmethyl methacrylate) (PFM) and poly(tetrahydrofurfurylmethyl methacrylate) (PHFM). The effect of the nature of the side group on T_g is discussed. Various relationships between number average molecular weight M_n and T_g have been established. Linear relationships between T_g and In P (P = degree of polymerization) have been obtained for some of the systems studied here.