A simple and fast way to measure proton self‐diffusion coefficients of small penetrant molecules in semicrystalline polymers is introduced. The approach takes advantage of the strong static gradient of a mobile single‐sided NMR sensor and it is demonstrated on PE samples with varying degrees of crystallinity fully saturated in either toluene or n‐hexane. The self‐diffusion coefficients were measured using the gradient stimulated echo sequence appended with a CPMG. It is also shown for the first time, with demonstration on PE plates several millimeter thick with different aging histories, that one‐dimensional profiles of self‐diffusion coefficients as a function of depth can be easily obtained.
Kwamen, B. Blümich, A. Adams, Estimation of Self-Diffusion Coefficients of Small Penetrants in Semicrystalline Polymers Using Single-Sided NMR, Macromol. Rapid Commun. 33 (2012) 943-947. https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201100847