Free volume and density gradients of amorphous polymer surfaces as determined by use of a pulsed low-energy positron lifetime beam and PVT data
Density gradient widths at the polymer-vacuum surfaces of poly(methyl methacrylate), styrene-co-acrylonitrile, and styrene-co-maleic anhydride were quantified to 2, 5, and 4 rim, respectively, by use of a pulsed low-energy positron lifetime beam and to approximately 1.5 nm for all three polymers on the basis of theoretical predictions from pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) data, making use of the