The influence of polymer structure and component ratios on blend miscibility

The mean field, rigid lattice treatment as applied to polymer mixtures has been used to estimate segment-segment interaction parameters for a wide range of polymers. These parameters incorporate, without distinction, contributions from non-combinatorial entropy effects, dispersion forces and any specific interactions that operate in the polymer blend. Thus while these parameters can be used to predict successfully the nature of the phases in untested polymer blends, structural effects may also play a role in determining miscibility, and these may have to be assessed individually. Examples of structural effects are described using chlorine-containing polymers and blends of copolymers with an anhydride ring attached in two different ways to the polymer chain. The extension of binary interaction parameters to the prediction of phase behaviour in complex ternary copolymer blends and the effect on the phase behaviour of changing the component ratios in the blends, is also illustrated.     

Phase diagrams of poly(siloxane)/liquid crystal blends

Phase diagrams of blends of poly(methylphenylsiloxane) in short PMPS and two low molecular weight liquid crystals (4‐cyano‐4′‐n‐pentyl‐biphenyl and an eutectic mixture of paraphenylenes) are reported. Two polymers with very different weight‐average molar masses are considered in an evaluation of the loss of miscibility resulting from a known increase in the weight‐average molar mass. The experimental diagrams have been constructed via polarized optical microscopy and are rationalized in terms of the Flory–Huggins theory of isotropic mixtures and the Maier–Saupe theory of nematic order. The results show a good agreement between the theory and experiments and reveal a remarkable enhancement of miscibility with respect to similar systems involving poly(dimethylsiloxane). Variations of the interaction parameter with the temperature are compared for different systems of polysiloxanes. The effects of the nature of the liquid crystal and the polymer molar mass on the χ parameter are evaluated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 39–43, 2003     

Ultrasonic Modification of Polymers. II. Degradation of Polystyrene,Substituted Polystyrene,and Poly(n-vinyl Carbazole) in the Presence of Flexible Chain Polymers

Abstract

Ultrasonic (20 kHz, 70 W) solution degradations of polystyrene, substituted polystyrenes, and poly(n-vinyl carbazole) have been carried in toluene and tetrahydrofuran at 27 and -20°C in the presence of flexible chain polymers. Polystyrene formed block copolymers at 27°C with stiff-chain polymer PVCz; however, in the presence of flexible chain polymers, e.g., poly(vinyl methyl ketone) or poly(vinyl methyl ether), there were no block copolymers formed. Poly(n-vinyl carbazole) does not seem to form any block copolymers at 27°C with flexible chain polymers, e.g., poly(octadecyl methacrylate) and poly(ethyl methacrylate). Poly(p-chlorostyrene) and poly(p-methoxystyrene) also do not form block copolymers at 27°C with poly(octadecyl methacrylate) but do so with poly(hexadecyl methacrylate). It is quite possible that these may only be blends of two homopolymers. Poly(octa-decyl methacrylate) does yield a block copolymer when sonicated at -15°C with poly(p-isopropyl α-methylstyrene).     

聚碳酸酯与苯乙烯-丙烯腈共聚物共混体系相容性及其对光学性能的影响

利用分子内链段排斥性相互作用理论研究了聚碳酸酯 (PC) 苯乙烯 丙烯腈共聚物 (SAN)共混体系中组份分子量及SAN共聚比例对体系相容性的影响规律 ,确定了获得均相的PC SAN共混体系的条件 ,考察了体系相容性与光学性能之间的关系 .通过实验获得了均相的PC SAN共混物 ;研究结果表明PC聚合度为 90、SAN聚合度为 3 0的PC SAN(S体积含量为 68%)体系共混比在 60∶40附近时体系的双折射能够实现补偿 ,紫外透光率达到 70 %.     

Design of miscible polyolefin copolymer blends

Theoretical guidelines are established for designing miscible blends of amorphous polyolefin copolymers. On the basis of calculations for an athermal and incompressible model of copolymer melts, limits are placed on the compositions and structural differences between blend components that are consistent with thermodynamic stability of a single liquid phase. Specific cases analyzed include binary blends of random copolymers containing short branches and blends of graft polymers with long flexible branches, either periodically or randomly placed. The predictions are shown to be in good agreement with recent experimental studies of miscibility in model polyolefin copolymer blends. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Miscibility‐property correlations in blends of glassy amorphous polymers

Blends were prepared from seven polymers in various combinations in the entire composition range. The Flory‐Huggins interaction parameter (χ₁₂) was used for the quantitative estimation of miscibility. The determination of χ₁₂ was attempted by several experimental techniques including the measurement of transparency, glass transition temperature, solvent diffusion and mechanical properties. The relatively simple methods used for the estimation of miscibility work surprisingly well. Solvent absorption can be determined easily for practically all blends, thus the method offers a quantitative measure of component interaction if the solvent is selected properly. After appropriate data reduction, the composition dependence of mechanical properties also supplies a quantitative estimate of compatibility. Although the approach presented in the paper reflects well the general correlation between miscibility and properties, it must be refined and improved in order to obtain a reliable estimate of blend performance.     

Shear induced mixing/demixing: blends of homopolymers,of homopolymers plus copolymers,and blends in solution

Shear may shift the phase boundary towards the homogeneous state (shear induced mixing, SIM), or in the opposite direction (shear induced demixing, SID). SIM is the typical behavior of mixtures of components of low molar mass and polymer solutions, SID can be observed with solutions of high molar mass polymers and polymer blends at higher shear rates. The typical sequence with increasing shear rate is SIM, then occurrence of an isolated additional immiscible area (SID), melting of this island into the main miscibility gap, and finally SIM again. A three phase line originates and ends in two critical end points. Raising pressure increases the shear effects. For copolymer containing systems SID is sometimes observed at very low shear rates, preceding the just mentioned sequence of shear influences.     

Phase behaviour and miscibility window in UCST-type blends of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) and tetramethylbisphenol A oligosulfones

The pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) behaviour of styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN) random copolymers and of tetramethylbisphenol A oligosulfones (TMOS) was studied using the Flory–Orwoll–Vrij (FOV) as well as the Sako–Wu–Prausnitz (SWP) equation-of-state (EOS). It was found that the SWP EOS is superior to the FOV theory in describing the PVT behaviour of the polymers, especially in the high-pressure range. Furthermore, blends comprising TMOS and SAN copolymers of varying acrylonitrile content were studied by means of cloud point measurements and differential scanning calorimetry. The system shows pronounced miscibility-window behaviour, i.e. the miscibility depends strongly on the copolymer composition. At the edges of the miscibility window, UCST (upper critical solution temperature) behaviour was observed and discussed in terms of the FOV EOS. The cloud point curves were exceptionally broad and could be reproduced neither by the Flory–Huggins nor by the FOV theory. However, taking the polydispersity of both components into account, the calculation of correct phase diagrams was possible using the FOV theory. Exchange energy parameters between the polymers, X_AB, were obtained from fitting the critical points of the phase diagrams. Additionally, segmental exchange energy parameters X_i/j of the components were calculated.     

Relaxation and Miscibility of the Blends of a Poly (Ether Imide) (Ultem™) and a Phenol-A-Based Copolyester (Ardel™) by Inverse Gas Chromatography

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was used to analyze the secondary transition temperatures and the miscibility of binary mixtures of poly (ether imide) (Ultem™) and a copolyester of bisphenol-A with terephthalic and isophthalic acids (50/50) (Ardel™) in three compositions (25/50, 50/50 and 75/25). Retention diagrams of the mixtures of Ultem™ and Ardel™ for n-nonane, n-decane, n-butyl acetate and isoamyl acetate were obtained at temperatures between 60 and 285 °C. Second-order transition temperatures of the mixtures were determined according to the slope change in retention diagrams of the solvents. The glass transition temperatures of the mixtures suggested the miscibility of the polymers. Polymer–polymer interaction parameters of binary mixtures of the polymers were determined at temperatures between 260 and 285 °C by Flory–Huggins theory. The polymer–polymer interaction parameters were dependent on the solvent used. The small values of polymer–polymer interaction parameters close to zero suggest some weak interactions between the polymers in the mixture. It was concluded that it was possible to obtain more meaningful information related to the interactions of polymers in a mixture from IGC measurements, if binary polymer–solvent interaction parameters of the used solvent probes were around 0.5.

     

Compatibility and thermodynamic interaction in random copolymer blends

Some random copolymer blends have been found to be miscible in a certain range of copolymer composition even though any combinations of their corresponding homopolymers are not miscible. The opposite case may exist. These two types of miscibility behaviors have been called miscibility and immiscibility windows, respectively. Such two miscibility behaviors were discussed by application of the equation-of-state theory to copolymer systems. The equation-of-state theory gives two kinds of temperature dependences of the interaction parameter X: (a) a U-shaped curve which is always positive regardless of temperature and (b) a function increasing monotonically from negative to positive values. Infinite molecular weight polymer blends are immiscible over all the temperature in the case (a), while in the case (b) two polymers are miscible below a temperature at which X=0. Applying the equation-of-state theory to random copolymer blends in which miscibility changes with the copolymer composition at a certain temperature to be immiscible → miscible → immiscible, two types of dependences of the temperature-X curve can be obtained: (1) (a) → (b) → (a) dependent on the copolymer composition and (2) (b) regardless of the copolymer composition. For the blends in which miscibility changes with the copolymer composition to be miscible → immiscible → miscible, there can be two types: (3) (b) → (a) → (b) and (4) (b) regardless of the copolymer composition. It may be concluded that socalled miscibility and immiscibility windows should be defined by the types (1) and (3), respectively. The equation-of-state theory for random copolymer systems was applied to the real systems. The blends of poly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl chloride) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) were of the type (1), while it was suggested that the blends of poly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl chloride) and poly(isobutyl methacrylate-co- butyl methacrylate) may be of the type (4) though this system behaved like an immiscibility window at a certain temperature.     

聚合物共混物相容性的研究进展

相容性聚合物共混物由于其优异的复合性能已成为新材料的主要研究方向。但许多共混物是互不相容的 ,因此必须改善它们的相容性。文章综述了聚合物共混物相容性研究的现状与发展 ,介绍了各种增容方法及其应用     

Compatibility of coils and rods bearing flexible side chains

We present a theoretical treatment of nematic-isotropic phase equilibria in mixtures which consist of random coils and comblike polymers, the latter components being composed of a rigid backbone and flexible side chains. The mixing partition function is evaluated by using the Flory lattice model. The comblike component is characterized by the axial ratio x_r of its rigid main chain and the number of flexible side chains z, each containing m segments. The coiled component is described by its number of segments x_c. The net exchange energy of mixing is assumed to be zero; i.e., we consider athermal solutions. It is shown that the flexible side chains attached to the rigid main chains markedly enhance the compatibility in the isotropic phase. If the ratio of the volume fraction of the side chains to the volume fraction of the main chains is high enough, there is even a finite range of concentration where the random coils mix homogeneously with the comblike component. This is in contrast to mixtures of rods and coils, which have been shown by Flory to be incompatible over nearly the full range of composition. These conclusions hold true only when ordered states are involved. For comblike polymers with flexible backbones mixed with random coils in isotropic melts, the resulting free energy of mixing is given by the familiar Flory-Huggins expression.     

Analog calorimetry and UNIQUAC group contributions approaches to the miscibility of pvc with eva copolymers

The miscibility of blends of poly(vinyl-chloride) (PVC) with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) was investigated through analog calorimetry and a group contribution procedure based on the UNIQUAC model. The group contribution parameters quantifying the pair interactions between the structural features of the above polymers were calculated from experimental excess enthalpies of a series of binary mixtures of chlorocompounds, esters and hydrocarbons. Enthalpy data were also collected for the ternary mixtures (2-chloropropane+ethyl acetate+n-heptane) and (2-chlorobutane + methyl acetate+n-heptane), chosen as possible models for the studied macromolecular mixtures. The miscibility window of the PVC-EVA blends is fairly predicted by the group contribution method. It is also acceptably predicted by the enthalpic behaviour of the first ternary set, but only when the latter is calculated with binary data. A slightly narrower miscibility range is predicted by the binary interaction model. The results of these procedures are compared and the higher reliability of the group contribution procedure is emphasized in terms of its capability to reproduce the exact structure of the macromolecules and the non-univocal choice of the model molecules involved in the analog calorimetry approach. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phase behavior of polystyrene acrylonitril copolymer and polymethylmethacrylate blends under shear

Polymer blends undergo external stresses such as pressure and shear in course of processing cycles. The knowledge of their phase behavior at each step of these cycles is crucial for understanding their physical properties and eventually improves their performance in practical applications. The effects of shear on the phase diagram of binary polymer blends are considered. A theoretical formulism is used upon which the free energy is the sum of two terms. The first term is modeled with the Flory–Huggins free energy of mixing and describes the thermodynamic behavior of the system in the quiescent state. The second term represents the excess free energy stored during flow. In the presence of shear flow, the excess free energy is expressed in terms of the viscosity and the shear modulus. Both quantities depend on composition and shear rate. The curvature of the variation of viscosity versus composition has a tremendous impact upon the nature of phase separation. Phase diagrams are described by the spinodal curves and show for the case considered here miscibility enhancement with increasing shear rate. A good correlation is found with experimental data of the literature on blends of polystyrene acrylonitril copolymer and polymethylmethacrylate. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Phase behaviors and interactions of N-alkylated polyanilines and ethylene-co-vinyl acetate blends

Conjugated polyanilines bearing long alkyl side chains (dodecyl PANi-12 and octadecyl PANi-18) were prepared for the purpose of obtaining well-mixed conducting polymer blends with insulating flexible polymers. The miscibility of the polyanilines and ethylene-co-vinyl acetate copolymers (EV A20 with 20 wt % of vinyl acetate and EV A70 with 70 wt %) was significantly improved by long alkyl chains of the same hydrocarbon moieties as the ethylene segments in the matrix EV A, as demonstrated by microscopic observation. PANi-18/EV A20 blends exhibit a lower critical phase separation temperature (LCST). In addition, the EV A crystallinity and the side-chain crystallinity in the miscible blends were depressed, as shown by thermal analysis and x-ray scattering. The comparison of three designed blend systems indicates that the miscibility of the polymers is determined by the hydrophobic interaction between the hydrocarbon units in the both components and by the hydrogen bonding. The solvatochromic phenomena for the blends at low miscible PANi compositions was detected by UV-visible spectroscopy. The threshold conductivities exhibit sensitivity to the morphological structure of the polymeric blends, and was lowered by improved homogenous dispersion of the conducting phase. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

PPEKK/PEI共混物的相容性及拉伸性能

作为相容体系 ,聚芳醚酮与聚醚酰亚胺 (ＰＥＩ)共混物体系的研究受到了研究者的重视[1～ 4] .由于现在已商品化的聚芳醚酮基本上都是半结晶型聚合物 ,所以有有关无定型聚芳醚酮与聚醚酰亚胺共混物的研究鲜见报道 .含二氮杂萘酮结构聚芳醚酮酮 (ＰＰＥＫＫ)是一种新型耐高温聚合物 ,相比于已经商品化的各种聚芳醚酮 ,ＰＰＥＫＫ除具有优异的综合性能外 ,它最大的特点表现在以下两方面 ,ＰＰＥＫＫ耐热性突出 ,玻璃化转变温度 (Ｔｇ)为 2 4 5℃左右 ,远高于各种商品化的聚芳醚酮 ;ＰＰＥＫＫ为无定型聚合物 ,易溶于多种有机极性溶剂 ,大大的扩…     

聚甲醛与热塑性酚醛树脂相容性研究

考察了聚甲醛(POM)与热塑性酚醛树脂(Novolak)的相容性;浊点法研究结果表明,POM/Novolak共混物存在一个低位临界相转变温度.DSC测试表明,POM与Novolak共混后,共混物的熔点下降;通过DSC测试得到数据,采用Hoffman-Weeks平衡熔点外推法和Flory熔点下降方程推算出POM与Novolak的相互作用参数(χ)约为-0.032.FTIR研究表明,Novolak的羟基能够与POM的醚氧基形成氢键,导致共混物中Novolak的羟基峰向高频偏移.研究结果表明,POM与Novolak能够达到热力学相容.     

A comparison of theoretical predictions and experimental evidences of miscibility for poly(ethylene oxide)-based blends

Mixtures of poly(ethylene oxide)/atactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PEO/At-PMMA) blends and poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate) (PEO/EVAc-1) blends were prepared by casting from a common solvent and were found miscible. The applications of the Solubility Parameter Theory, Patterson Theory and the Equation of State Theory of Flory are reported. The miscibility predictions obtained are discussed and compared to experimental miscibility evidence.     

Effect of polydispersity on the cloud-point curves of polymer mixtures

A method is presented for the calculation of cloud-point curves of polymer–polymer mixtures when the polymers involved are polydisperse. The method is based on the Flory–Huggins free energy of mixing with a concentration-independent χ parameter. Numerical results are given for cases in which the molecular weight distributions are represented by the Schulz–Flory type. When the two polymers have similar average molecular weights and polydispersities, the cloud-point curves become flatter as the polydispersity increases. When the two polymers have similar average molecular weights but differ in polydispersity, the cloud-point curves become more skewed as the difference in the polydispersity increases. The results point out that, if the polydispersity effect is not properly accounted for, the value of χ deduced from experimental cloud points is liable to be in error, especially with regard to its temperature coefficient and its concentration dependence.     

Vinyl chloride polymers and their use in polymer blends

A short introduction to polymer-polymer miscibility and to the prediction of the miscibility of polymers is given. The four main types of polymer-modified poly(vinyl chloride) (plastification, impact modification, processing aids and heat deflection temperature modification) are explained by examples. The thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride) in such blends is discussed; the effectivity of tin-stabilizers may be higher in such blends than in pure poly(vinyl chloride).