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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 February 2011
The effects of Lewis acid complexation on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of several polymers with strong intermolecular interactions was investigated. The decrease in the Tg due to GaCl3 complexation of aliphatic and aromatic polyamides was 40–600° C and 148° C, respectively, and was shown to originate from scission of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The reduction in the Tg due to GaCl3 complexation of rigid–chain polymers was greater that 325° C and can be explained by the mitigation of the otherwise strong van der Waals forces in the pristine polymers. Thus, the dominant effect of intermolecular interactions on the Tg of several polymers has been probed by Lewis acid complexation.