A light-scattering study of phase separation kinetics in polystyrene/poly(2-chlorostyrene) blends

The angular dependence of the intensity of scattered light from polystyrene/poly(2-chlorostyrene) blends was measured as a function of time in early and late stages of phase separation. The results were discussed in terms of Cahn's theory and scaling law for the late stage. Some distinctive behaviors which had not been found in other polymer blends were observed: the intensity of low-angle scattering increased significantly during phase separation, possibly because of inhomogeneities in density. In the power laws k_m α t_? and I_m α t_θ for the time (t) evolution of the peak position k_m and peak heigh I_m of the structure function in the late stage; the value of ? was around ?1, almost independent of composition and temperature; the ratio |θ/?| was less than the theoretical value 3. Possible explanations for these behaviors are discussed in relation to the glass transition.     

Small-angle x-ray and neutron scattering studies of amorphous polymer blends

Dilute mixtures of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(p-iodostyrene) (PpIS) in polystyrene, and deuterated polystyrene (d-PS) in protonated poly(o-chlorostyrene) (PoCIS) were investigated by means of small-angle x-ray scattering and small-angle neutron scattering. The radii of gyration of PCL in PVC and of d-PS in PoCIS were found to be expanded over the θ values by 50 and 30%, respectively. Values of the second virial coefficient were positive although errors prevented definitive evaluation of the interaction parameter. PpIS was found to aggregate, with both the radius of gyration and molecular weight increasing with concentration. Concentrated mixtures of PCL and PVC were also investigated by using the Debye–Bueche correlation function analysis. Correlation distances indicated good mixing throughout the entire composition range.     

Miscibility and phase behavior in atactic polystyrene and poly(o-chlorostyrene-co-p-chlorostyrene) blends: Effect of polystyrene molecular weight and copolymer composition

Miscibility in blends of random copolymers of o-chlorostyrene and p-chlorostyrene [P(oClSy-co-pClS_1-y)] with 8 atactic polystyrene (aPS) fractions has been studied at temperatures ranging from 150°C to 300°C. Miscibility windows whose size depends on the molecular weight of the PS and on the copolymer composition, y, were observed for each blend. From these data, the temperature dependence of the three segmental interaction parameters required to describe this system were obtained.     

The heat capacity of solid and liquid polystyrene,p-substituted polystyrenes,and crosslinked polystyrenes

Heat capacities were measured for poly(4-methylstyrene) [300–500K], poly(4-fluorostyrene) [130–350K], poly(4-chlorostyrene) [300–550K], poly(4-bromostyrene) [300–550K], poly(4-iodostyrene) [300–550K] and poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) with 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 wt.% divinylbenzene (technical grade) [300–550K]. Polystyrene and poly(α-methylstyrene) data were found to match the ATHAS data bank collections. Crosslinking causes no significant change in heat capacity, but substitution does. The heat capacities in the solid state are evaluated using approximate group and skeletal vibration spectra. Glass transitions are discussed, and full thermodynamic functions (C_p, H, S, G) can be calculated for amorphous, crystalline, and deuterated polystyrene as well as poly(α-methylstyrene). Glassy polystyrene has an entropy of 7.5 J K^?1 mol^?1 at absolute zero. Changes of the heat capacity at the glass transition are explained and are predicted to go to zero for 50% poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) at about 550K.     

On the heat of solution of polymer with solvent: Polydimethylsiloxane–solvent systems

Heats of mixing and excess volumes at infinite dilution have been obtained at 25°C. for polydimethylsiloxane or its lower oligomers in various solvents by using a twin conduction microcalorimeter and from the pycnometric specific volumes. From those values, excess energies ΔE^M_v at constant volume have been determined. The prediction on intramolecular conformation contributions to the heat of solution as proposed by Bianchi has been evaluated by the values of ΔE^M_v. The heat of solution in the polymer–solvent systems was interpreted by the expression for ΔE^M_v derived from the Van Laar-Hildebrand work on simple liquid mixtures with the solubility parameters of polymers obtained from indirect measurements. The values of conformational intramolecular energy change calculated from dilute solution properties were difficult to rationalize with our results. Our present results suggest that systems in a nonideal state can not be distinguished for certain from those in the ideal state. This conclusion based on apparent values does not deny the possible effect of the conformational energy change.     

Propriétés thermodynamiques des mélanges binaires. Volume et énergie interne de formation des solutions de l'hexadécane dans les isomères de l'hexane

The volumes of mixing of hexadecane and each of the isomers of hexane have been measured for the equimolar mixtures at 20°C. The results have been used together with previously measured values of ΔH to obtain ΔU_v. A very good correlation is found between the energy of mixing and the properties of the pure alkanes.     

Conformational behavior of styrene–p-chlorostyrene triblock copolymers in dilute solutions. I. Composition dependence of conformational behavior

Dilute solution properties of (styrene-p-chlorostyrene) triblock copolymers in various solvents were studied over a wide range of molecular weight and composition. Viscosity and osmotic pressure results indicate that the conformational behavior of the B_mA_nB_m and A_mB_nA_m copolymers (A = styrene; B = p-chlorostyrene; m and n denote the number of units) are similar in nonselective solvents such as toluene and 2-butanone, but different in selective solvents such as carbon tetrachloride and cumene. Short-range and long-range interaction parameters of the block copolymers were determined by applying the Stockmayer–Fixman method to viscosity data and also by application of the equation relating the osmotic virial coefficient and the excluded volume. The results show that the unperturbed dimensions of the block copolymers vary linearly with composition, and long-range interaction parameters in nonselective solvents can be expressed by those of the parent homopolymers, the chemical composition, and values of the interaction parameter β_AB between styrene and p-chlorostyrene monomeric units.     

Small-angle neutron scattering of polymer blends of polyvinylmethylether at dilute concentration in deuterated polystyrene

Small-angle neutron scattering was used to measure the radius of gyration and thermodynamics of blends of poly(vinylmethylether) (PVME) at dilute concentration in deuterated polystyrene (PSD). The data were analyzed using the Zimm equation and the random phase approximation theory. For PVME with a weight-average molecular weight of 38,400 the value of the radius of gyration, R_g, was found to be 47 Å in the limit of the concentration of PVME extrapolated to zero. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the Flory interaction parameter, χ/v₀, indicates that phase separation should occur at approximately 300°C for a sample with ϕ_PVME ≅ 9%. No significant temperature dependence of R_g was found over the experimental range studied. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 1–9, 1998     

Studies of polymer blends. I. Compatibility of poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-sulfur dioxide)

Various methods of determining polymeric molecular compatibility were applied to blends of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-sulfur dioxide) (E/VA/SO₂). In one series, where the E/VA/SO₂ had a mole composition of 72.7/18.5/8.8, true compatible blends were demonstrated by phase-contrast microscopy, torsion pendulum studies, and differential scanning calorimetry experiments for blends containing up to 40% E/VA/SO₂. These blends exhibited a single T_g whose compositional variation was found to follow the Fox expression. Experimental densities were slightly greater than predicted on assuming volume additivity. This observation implies better packing and a negative heat of mixing and thus is in harmony with a negative free energy of mixing and the observed molecular compatibility.     

Crystallization,thermal behavior,and compatibility in isotactic polystyrene/poly(o-chlorostyrene-co-p-chlorostyrene) blends

The dependence of the kinetics of crystallization and melting behavior in isotactic polystyrene/poly-o-chlorostyrene-co-p-chlorostyrene (iPS/Po-CIS-co-p-CIS) blends on temperature, thermal history, and blend composition has been investigated. The crystallization rate at a given temperature and copolymer composition decreases with increasing copolymer content in the blend when the samples are premelted. These effects can be ascribed to the reduction of mobility of the crystallizable chains due to the presence of the copolymer and to the decrease in the number of heterogenous iPS nuclei as a result of the premelting process. The Avrami exponent values and the analysis of the blend morphology indicate that the growth mechanism of the crystals is strongly influenced by thermal treatment. There is no measurable change in the melting temperature of iPS in the blends, with composition indicating that, on the basis of the Flory-Huggins approximation of the thermodynamics of polymer mixing, the net interaction parameter at the melting temperature is close to zero. From the comparison of the phase diagram for the isotactic polystyrene-containing blend with that of the atactic-containing blend, it can be concluded that in the amorphous state polystyrene with a regular configuration is slightly less compatible with the P(o-CIS-co-p-CIS) than is polystyrene with random configuration.     

Effect of blending ratio and oligomer structure on the thermal transitions of stereocomplexes consisting of a D‐lactic acid oligomer and poly(L‐lactide)

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) stereocomplexes have high potential as renewable materials for advanced polymer applications, mainly due to their high melting temperature (T_m, typically 230–240°C). The properties of PLA stereocomplexes consisting of linear high molar mass homopolymers have been studied extensively in the past, but the available information about the possibilities to affect the thermal properties of the stereocomplex by varying the structure of the blend components has not been sufficient. Novel stereocomplexes containing linear or star‐shaped D ‐lactic acid (D ‐LA) oligomers and high molar mass poly(L ‐lactide) (L‐ PLA) were thus prepared. The T_m and melting enthalpy (ΔH_m) of the racemic crystallites were found to depend strongly on both the blending ratio and the arm‐length of the D ‐lactic acid oligomer. The preparation method of the oligomers, i.e. step‐growth polymerization or ring‐opening polymerization (ROP), did not affect the T_m or ΔH_m of the blends significantly. Slightly higher ΔH_m values were, however, obtained, when linear oligomers were used. The results thus indicated that the T_m and ΔH_m of PLA stereocomplexes could be optimized, simply by selecting a D ‐LA oligomer having a suitable arm‐length and structure as the other blend component. The possibility to adjust the melting behavior of the stereocomplex blend is a significant advantage and could make PLA suitable for a wider range of products used at elevated temperatures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Glass transitions in hydrogen-bonded polymer complexes

Mutual precipitates of poly (N, N-dimethyl acrylamide) and poly (4-hydroxystyrene) were collected from dioxane, methanol, or acetone. The glass transition (T_g) temperatures of the precipitates are higher than the weight-average values. Clear films cast from dimethylformamide solutions have lower T_g values. Complexation also occurred between poly (ethyl oxazoline) and poly (4-hydroxystyrene) in dioxane and between poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly (4-hydroxystyrene) in methanol. Again, the glass transition temperatures of the precipitates are higher than the values for the blend films. The ΔC_p values associated with the glass transitions of the complexes are smaller than those of the blends having the same compositions. Negative excess heat capacities of mixing have been observed for several precipitates.     

Temperature and molecular weight dependence of interfacial tension between immiscible polymer pairs by the square gradient theory combined with the Flory–Orwoll–Vrij equation-of-state theory

Interfacial tension between immiscible polymer pairs was predicted by using a square gradient theory in conjunction with the Flory–Orwoll–Vrij equation-of-state expression for the free energy of mixing. The contact interaction parameter was determined by fitting the equation-of-state theory to experimental cloud points taken from the literature, and the square gradient coefficient was estimated from the relation derived from a scattering function. The modified square gradient theory could successfully predict both the magnitude and temperature dependence of interfacial tension between polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate), although no adjustable parameters were used in calculating interfacial tension. The molecular weight dependence of interfacial tension was also successfully predicted. The contribution of free volume on interfacial tension is analyzed for two systems: polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene/poly(dimethyl siloxane) blends. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 2683–2689, 1998     

Dependence of flory-Huggins χ parameters on the copolymer composition for solutions of poly(methyl methacrylate-ran-n-butyl methacrylate) in cyclohexanone

Intermolecular interactions in random copolymer systems depend on the copolymer composition as being observed as a miscibility window in the random copolymer blends. The copolymer composition dependencies of the Flory-Huggins χ parameter and the heats of mixing ▵H_M(∞) at infinite dilution were studied for the solutions of poly(methyl methacrylate-ran-n-butyl methacrylate) (MMAnBMA) in cyclohexanone (CHN). The copolymer composition dependencies of χ obtained from osmotic pressures and of ▵H_M(∞) measured with a microcalorimeter were concave curves. This suggests that the random copolymers MMAnBMA interact with CHN more attractively than do the homopolymers PMMA and PnBMA. This is caused by the repulsion effect between the MMA and nBMA segments. The equation-of-state theory extended to the random copolymer systems by us reproduced fairly well these thermodynamic properties. The χ parameter for the PMMA/PnBMA blends was calculated using the equation-of-state theory with the MMA/nBMA intersegmental parameters employed for the above random copolymer solutions in CHN. The χ value calculated thus was in satisfactory agreement with that obtained from the random copolymer solutions using the Flory-Huggins theory extended to multicomponent systems. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Light scattering and image analysis studies in polymer blends

Various optical techniques have been investigated as potential candidates for characterization of multiphase polymeric materials. The model calculations and corresponding experiments (time‐resolved light scattering and image analysis) have been conducted to investigate the kinetics of phase dissolution of polymer blends. The blends studied were polystyrene/poly (methyl methacrylate) mixtures with diblock copolymer composed of the corresponding homopolymers. The time evolution of the spinodal peak position q_m(t,T) and the scattered intensity maximum I_m(t,T) at q_m have been compared with theoretically predicted values of exponents for distinct time scales of the phase dissolution in various temperature regimes.     

微量量热法研究阴离子表面活性剂在DMA/长链醇体系中CMC和热力学函数

在N,N-二甲基乙酰胺(DMA)/长链醇非水溶液体系中, 利用微量量热仪, 研究阴离子表面活性剂十二烷基羧酸钠(SLA)、十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)的临界胶束浓度(CMC)和热力学函数. 本文在十二烷基羧酸钠, 十二烷基硫酸钠的N,N-二甲基乙酰胺溶液中, 分别加入长链醇(庚醇、辛醇、壬醇、癸醇), 测定体系的热功率-时间曲线. 借助热力学理论, 由测得曲线, 进一步得到临界胶束浓度和热力学函数(ΔH_m⁰, ΔG_m⁰和ΔS_m⁰). 讨论了温度、醇的碳原子数目、醇的浓度与热力学参数之间的关系. 结果表明, 对十二烷基羧酸钠或十二烷基硫酸钠的DMA溶液, 在含有相同浓度的各种醇的体系中, CMC, ΔH_m⁰和ΔS_m⁰的值随着温度的升高而增加, 而ΔG_m⁰的值随着温度的升高而降低. 在相同温度及相同浓度的醇体系中, CMC, ΔH_m⁰,ΔG_m⁰和ΔS_m⁰的值都随着醇中碳原子数目的增加而降低. 在相同温度及相同醇的体系中, CMC, ΔG_m⁰的值随着醇的浓度的增加而增大, 而ΔH_m⁰, ΔS_m⁰的值随着醇的浓度的增加而减少.     

Free volumes in simple and polymeric liquids

Values of ε₀ν₀ the vaporization energy and volume in the hypothetical liquid state at 0°K., are derived for some simple polar and nonpolar molecules used as models for vinyl polymers. The following empirical relationship between the free volume fraction, f = (v ? v₀)/v, and the liquid compressibility coefficient β is demonstrated: ?f² ∝? This is applied to several vinyl polymer liquids near their glass transition temperatures, T_g, giving. f_g ? 0.17, if the “hard-core” volume v^* is considered to be independent of pressure and temperature, (i.e., v^* = v₀); or, f_g ?0.12, if the P,T dependence of v^* is considered to be the same as that of the glass. These agree with f_g values derived by Simha and Boyer from thermal expansion coefficients for the two analogous cases. An empirical viscosity-free volume equation of the Doolittle form: η = ATⁿe^b/f is applied to the glass transition, on assuming that this is an isoviscosity state and with the use of reported values for the expansion and compressibility coefficients and dT_g/dP for three polymers: polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(vinyl acetate). Reasonable values of b/n are thus obtained. This viscosity equation is critically examined in the light of molecular theories of liquid viscosity.     

Melting point depression and phase behavior of poly(ether-sulfone) and poly(ethylene oxide) blends: Equation-of-state theory approach

Melting-point depression in miscible polymer blends is interpreted with Flory-Prigogine's equation-of-state theory (FP theory) and Sanchez-Lacombe's lattice fluid theory (LF theory). The equations for equilibrium melting point depression in polymer mixtures are proposed from both the FP and LF theories. For miscible poly(ether-sulfone) (PES)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blends, the proposed equations are tested. The interaction parameters, X₁₂ in FP theory and ζ₁₂ in LF theory, can be determined with these equations. The theoretically predicted equilibrium melting-point depression is subdivided into three terms, namely, the equation-of-state, the entropy and the contact interaction terms. When the estimated interaction parameters are converted to the heat of mixing by use of both theories, the composition dependence of the heat of mixing can be properly predicted. Using the interaction parameters obtained from the melting-point depression in PES/PEO blends, the spinodal curves are simulated from both the FP and LF theories.     

Viscometric study on the miscibility of polystyrene/brominated polystyrene blends

The miscibility of polystyrene/brominated polystyrene blends (PS/PBrS) was investigated by using dilute-solution viscometry (DSV) method. The intrinsic viscosity and the viscometric parameters of this system have been determined at 20 ± 0.1 °C for prepared several PS/PBrS compositions (85/15, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, 10/90). The binary systems were prepared in chloroform at five different concentrations; 0.15, 0.30, 0.60, 0.90, 1.20 g 100 ml⁻¹. The miscibility criteria on the basis of the sign of Δ[η] _m, Δb and Δb′, which are based on the difference between experimental and ideal values of [η]_m, and b_m were calculated by applying the Garcia et al., Catsiff-Hewett and Krigbaum-Wall theoretical equations. The thermodynamic parameter, α, modified thermodynamic parameter, β, and interaction parameter, μ, were also estimated. The data obtained from the viscometry studies showed that the examined blends were immiscible in all the compositions range besides the composition (10/90). The results from the DSV method are correlated with the miscibility data obtained for the same blend by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) find.     

Determination calorimetrique de l'enthalpie de formation des alliages (Al,Ba) riches en aluminum

The heats of formation of some aluminium-barium alloys have been determined by drop calorimetry at high temperature. The heats of mixing of pure liquid Al and Ba to give the liquid alloy are Δ_mH(x_Ba=O.056, 1215 K)=?6.6 kJ mole^?1 and Δ_mH(x_Ba=O.333, 1215 K)=?31.0 kJ mole^-1. To measure its heat of formation, the solid compound Al₄Ba was precipitated by addition of pure barium from a liquid (Al, Ba) bath. It was found that Δ_fH(Al_0.8Ba_O.2, solid, 1215 K)=-(37.1 ? 1.5) kJ mole^?1 with reference to the pure metals in the solid state.