Structure and properties of blends containing ethylene-methacrylate copolymers

The preparation, melting point, degree of crystallinity, mechanical properties, and morphology of a family of blends composed of a transition-metal-neutralized carboxylate semicrystalline ionomer (metal-neutralized ethylene-methacrylate copolymer) and an amorphous copolymer (styrene-4-vinyl pyridine copolymer) are described. These polymeric materials contain low levels (≤ 10.0 mol %) of interacting groups which are capable of forming interpolymeric complexes. These interactions are best described as transition metal-pyridine coordination complexes. A general characteristic of these blend systems is that the mechanical properties and morphology are directly influenced by the nature of the counterion and the specific composition ratio of amorphous to semicrystalline component. A nontransition metal counterion (sodium) is weakly interacting at best, while a transition metal counterion (zinc) is strongly interacting. Morphological studies (polarized-light microscopy and small-angle light-scattering measurements) confirm that the glassy component, if nonassociating, resides primarily in the interspherulite region, while the associating species will behave in a similar manner only after the stoichiometric ratio is reached. The morphology directly influences the stress-strain behavior of these blends. It is noteworthy that the spherulite size remains unchanged with nonassociating blends while a 50% reduction is noted in the associating blends. Thermal and wide-angle x-ray scattering measurements confirm the lamellar structure is unaffected by these associations. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.