Humidity-dependent dynamic infrared linear dichroism study of a poly(ester urethane)

Fourier transform infrared techniques, infrared difference spectroscopy and dynamic infrared linear dichroism (DIRLD), have been utilized to explore the effects of humidity and water absorption on a poly(ester urethane). An environmental infrared microbalance cell was used to measure the infrared spectra as a function of humidity and accompanying weight change for the absorption–desorption processes. The infrared difference data indicate that exposure to humidity affects the hydrogen-bonding interactions in the polymer. Dynamic infrared linear dichroism studies in tensile deformation mode as a function of humidity demonstrate how changes in water content affect the orientational response of functional groups. Complex behavior as a function of humidity for functional groups involved in hydrogen bonding indicates that water absorbed by the polymer affects the micro-environments near these functional groups.