Pressure dependence of the demixing of polymer solutions determined by viscometry

Summary From the break-down in the viscosity of a polymer solution, associated with the entrance into the two phase region, the pressure dependence of the demixing temperatures of solutions of polystyrene (M = 600.000) in cyclohexane, cyclopentane, diethylmalonate and 1-phenyldecane was measured up to 1000 bar. The application of pressure increases the solubility of polystyrene in cyclopentane and diethylmalonate, but decreases that in 1-phenyldecane; in the case of cyclohexane, a pressure of optimum miscibility is observed at ca. 120 bar.The discussion of these findings, together with further information from the literature, demonstrates that current theories cannot even predict the pressure influences qualitatively. For an easy forecast of the effects, the distance of the (upper) critical solution temperature,T _c from the melting point of the solvent,T _MP, can, however, serve as a guideline: From the present material it can be concluded thatT _c is increased by pressure if (T —T _MP)/T _MP (K/K) is less than 0,20 but decreased it if it exceeds 0,25.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. K. Ueberreiter in honor of his 70th birthday.     

Viscoelastic behaviour of non-compatible polymer blends: Polystyrene-polycarbonate

The linear and non-linear viscoelastic properties of a series of non-compatible polymer blends (polystyrene-bisphenol A polycarbonate) have been studied in the temperature range 180–250°. Glass transition temperature measurements show a small degree of compatibility at low PS contents. Variations of zero-shear viscosities as a function of blend composition have been related to the glass transitions and to the values of the thermodynamic interaction parameter λ₂₃ reported by Lipatov. An attempt was made to derive the linear viscoelastic properties of the blends as a function of the composition of the dispersed phase, given the viscoelastic behaviour of the pure components, using phenomenological models. Morphology of the dispersed phase has also been studied using scanning electron microscopy.     

Liquid phase demixing in ferroelectric/semiconducting polymer blends: An experimental and theoretical study

This article describes a combined experimental and theoretical study on nanophase structure development as a result of liquid phase demixing in solution‐cast blends of the organic semiconductor poly(9,9′‐dioctyl fluorene) (PFO) and the ferroelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)). Blend layers (200 nm) are prepared by spin coating a 1:9 (w/w) PFO:P(VDF‐TrFE) blend solution in a common solvent on a poly(ethylenedioxy thiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) substrate. Owing to the pronounced incompatibility between the two polymers, a strong phase‐separated morphology is obtained, characterized by disk‐like nanodomains of PFO embedded in a P(VDF‐TrFE) matrix, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. By varying the processing conditions, we find the average domain size and standard deviation to increase with spinning time. The considerable increase in domain size suggests the coarsening process not to be impeded by a steep rise in viscosity. This indicates solvent evaporation to be only moderate within the experimental time frame. The evolution of the observed phase morphology is modeled using ternary diffuse interface theory integrated with a modified Flory–Huggins (FH) treatment of the homogeneous (bulk) free energy of mixing, to account for significant molecular differences between the active blend components. Using calculated FH interaction parameters, the model confirms the phase separation to occur via spinodal decomposition of the blend solution during spin coating, as suggested by experimental observations. The simulated phase morphologies as well as the modeled trends in domain growth and standard deviation compare favorably with the experimental data. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1255–1262, 2011     

The competition between crystallization and demixing in polymer blends. IV. Detection of composition inhomogeneities around growing spherulites

In polymer blends of an amorphous and a semicrystalline component, the crystallization kinetics and the resulting morphology are heavily determined by the diffusion ability of the whole chains and by the dwelling site of the amorphous polymer. Depending on the relative rates of spherulite growth and chain diffusion, radial composition profiles around the growing spherulites and a gradual increase of the melt bulk composition can develop. The resulting change in composition, particularly at the crystallization front, causes a corresponding temporal variation of the spherulite growth rate. In the present article, two experimental techniques are introduced to prove the existence and to determine the course of these concentration profiles. They are based on the composition dependences of the spherulite growth rate and the number density of primary nuclei. Their efficiency is demonstrated by measurements on PVDF/PEA blends. The blend composition at the crystal growth front was found to change by absolute 25%, and the width of the profile can amount to up to 70 μm. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Degradable polymer blends. I. Screening of miscible polymers

Blends of biodegradable polymers having properties distinct from the individual polymer components, and that are suitable for use as carriers of pharmaceutically active agents, were prepared from two or more polyanhydrides, polyesters, and mixtures of polyanhydrides and low molecular weight polyesters. The blends have different properties than the original polymers, providing a mean for altering the characteristics of the polymeric matrix without altering the chemical structure of the component polymers. Aliphatic, aromatic, and copolymers of polyanhydrides were miscible in each other and formed less crystalline compositions with a single melting point which was lower than the melting point of the starting polymers. The polyesters: poly(lactide-glycolide), poly(caprolactone), and poly(hydroxybutyric acid) presented some miscibility in each other. However, the polyanhydrides were immiscible with the polyesters resulting in a complete phase separation both in solution or in melt mixing. Only low molecular weight polyesters (in the range of 2000) of lactide and glycolide, mandelic acid, propylenefumarate, and caprolactone presented some miscibility with polyanhydrides. Similarly, poly(orthoester) and hydroxybutyric acid polymers formed a uniform mixture with the anhydride polymers which had the two melting points of the original polymers. Drug release from polymer blends composed of poly(hydroxybutyric acid) or low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) with poly(sebacic anhydride) (PSA) showed a constant release of drug for periods from 2 weeks to several months as a function of the PSA content in the blend. Increasing the content of PSA, a fast degrading polymer, increases the release rate from the blend. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Viscoelastic behaviour of compatible polymer blends: Polystyrene/tetramethylpolycarbonate

The linear and non-linear viscoelastic properties of a series of compatible polymer blends (polystyrene/tetramethylpolycarbonate) have been studied in the temperature range 180–280°. Assuming additivity of both free volume and viscosity structure factors, it was possible to derive the linear viscoelastic properties of the blends, given blend characteristics and composition: the theoretical curves obtained from the model agree with experimental data within experimental uncertainties. Further, the model leads to simple blending laws for the glass transition temperature, zero shear viscosity, limiting compliance and plateau modulus of the blends.     

The competition between crystallization and demixing in polymer blends. V. Numerical modeling and quantitative evaluation of crystallization-induced composition inhomogeneities

It is well known that crystallization of one component in a polymer blend causes composition profiles around the growing spherulites. Amplitude and width of these profiles, respectively, depend on the ratio between the rates of diffusion and of spherulite growth. They can be determined by suitable experimental means. In the present article, the profiles are modeled, starting from Frank's solution of the diffusion equation in spherical coordinates under the boundary condition of moving walls that simultaneously are sources of the diffusing material. Modeled and experimentally determined profiles in PVDF/PEA and PCL/PS blends agree well. The analysis yields estimates for the diffusion coefficient D in polymeric melts as D ≅ (50 ··· 500) μm²/h. Finally, the interference of the composition profiles around several adjacent spherulites can be demonstrated. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Crystallization characteristics of polymer blends. I. Polyethylene and polystyrene

Blends of polyethylene and polystyrene have been prepared to study the effect of the morphology on their crystallization characteristics since the polymers are known to phase separate. The polymer component present in least amount formed a dispersed phase of discrete spherical particles whose number and size altered with blend composition. However, close to 50% composition cylindrical rods of polyethylene dispersed in polystyrene were observed. With polyethylene in excess the kinetics of crystallization were insensitive to the morphology, but with polyethylene present as the dispersed phase they became dependent on the size and number of the spheres, and in particular on the nucleation density. When the number of spherical particles exceeded that of heterogeneous nuclei, larger supercoolings, and so presumably homogeneous nucleation, were required for crystallization to develop further. The degree of crystallization of the blends then became dependent on the temperature of crystallization rather than on time, and the isothermal crystallization appearing to be instantaneous.     

Polymer blends—I. Mechanical and morphological behaviour of polyethylene/polyvinyl chloride blends

As part of a fundamental study of the behaviour of mixed plastics during reprocessing and in service, blends of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been investigated. It was found that Young's modulus increased steadily from pure LDPE to pure PVC whereas both tensile strength at break and elongation at break passed through a minimum at about 5% PVC. Optical and scanning electron microscope studies have related this mechanical behaviour to morphological changes in the two phase system under stress.     

Phase behaviour and morphology of polymer/liquid crystal blends

Abstract

The phase behaviour of blends of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with the liquid crystal p-azoxyanisole (PAA) has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. This system exhibits partial miscibility of the components in the molten state (at temperatures above 337 K). The melting temperature and enthalpy of the PAA phase has been found to depend on the blend composition, whereas the melting behaviour of the polymer phase remains quite unaltered. The occurrence of the PAA nematic phase, dispersed within an isotropic liquid phase, has been observed at high concentrations of liquid crystal. The morphology of the blends in the solid state changes largely with the PAA content, depending on the solubility of the components in the liquid phase.     

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.     

Experimental investigation of the spontaneous wetting of polymers and polymer blends

The dynamics of polymeric liquids and mixtures spreading on a solid surface have been investigated on completely wetting and partially wetting surfaces. Drops were formed by pushing the test liquid through a hole in the underside of the substrate, and the drop profiles were monitored as the liquid wet the surface. Silicon surfaces coated with diphenyldichlorosilane (DPDCS) and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) were used as wetting and partial wetting surfaces, respectively, for the fluids we investigated. The response under complete and partial wetting conditions for a series of polypropylene glycols (PPG) with different molecular weights and the same surface tension could be collapsed onto a single curve when scaling time based on the fluid viscosity, the liquid-vapor surface tension, and the radius of a spherical drop with equivalent volume. A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG300) and a series of poly(ethylene oxide-rand-propylene oxide) copolymers did not show the same viscosity scaling when spread on the partially wetting surface. A combined model incorporating hydrodynamic and molecular-kinetic wetting models adequately described the complete wetting results. The assumptions in the hydrodynamic model, however, were not valid under the partial wetting conditions in our work, and the molecular-kinetic model was chosen to describe our results. The friction coefficient used in the molecular-kinetic model exhibited a nonlinear dependence with viscosity for the copolymers, indicating a more complex relationship between the friction coefficient and the fluid viscosity.     

Fluctuation-dissipation relations for polymer systems. I. The molecular weight dependence of the viscosity

Generalised Langevin equations are used to describe the motion of interacting polymer molecules. In these equations the many-body aspects of the problem are incorporated into generalised friction functions and random forces. The so-called second fluctuation-dissipation relation gives a general relation between these two quantities and enables us to relate the spatial correlations present in the environment to a normal mode dependent friction coefficient and force constant. We then show how the various regimes of molecular weight dependence of the viscosity can be understood in a fairly general and non-specific way in terms of the spatial correlations of the random forces representing the rest of the system of polymer and solvent molecules. In particular a molecular weight dependence of M³ is shown to be a general feature of a spatially corelated environment.     

Viscoelastic and thermal behaviour of partially compatible polymer blends polycarbonate/tetramethylpolycarbonate

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) measurements show that, in the case of polycarbonate (PC) with tetramethylpolycarbonate (MPC), the homopolymers are miscible up to 70% PC weight fraction; at higher PC content, an additional PC phase appears. The partial miscibility of PC and MPC has been confirmed by ultrasonic attenuation measurements and scanning electron microscopy. The viscoelastic behaviour of these blends has been correlated with the blend composition and compatibility. The free volume contraction, found to explain the variations of glass transition temperature and viscosity with concentration, suggests strong intermolecular interaction in the compatible range.     

Viscometric behaviour of polymer blends based on poly (vinylidene fluoride)

The viscosity behaviour of dilute dimethylformamide solutions of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-poly (methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylidene fluoride)-polystyrene has been studied at 25°C. The polymer concentration ranges are such that neither phase separation nor microgel formation occurs, although we are very close to theta conditions. The intrinsic viscosity and viscosity interaction parameter of the ternary mixtures have been calculated. The estimation of the compatibility of the above polymer pairs has been studied based on: a) specific viscosities; b) viscosity interaction parameters, according to Krigbaum and Wall formalism, and c) viscosity interaction parameters of a system formed by a dilute probe polymer in the presence of a matrix polymer and a small molecule solvent.     

Laser studies on the phosphorescence decay of benzophenone in polymer matrices—I. Intensity dependence

Use of a pulsed nitrogen laser in the study of the non-exponential nature of the phosphorescence decay profile of benzophenone in poly(methyl methacrylate) led to the proposal that the mechanism involved a triplet-triplet annihilation process in which the polymeric matrix itself participated.     

On the compatibilization of polymer blends

By means of statistical thermodynamics we consider the effect of a diblock copolymer on the interface of a demixed homopolymer blend. In contrast to the usual case where the blocks are identical with the components of the homopolymers, we investigate the use of arbitrary blocks XY respective to the A-B blend. As examples, we calculate interfacial properties such as the interfacial tension and the width of the interface as well as the concentration profiles of the blocks. We expect a strong compatibilization effect if the blocks are sufficiently long and have a preferential repulsive interaction with one of the two homopolymers.     

Poly(silmethylene)-based polymer blends. I. In situ polymerization of 1,3-disilacyclobutanes in silicon-based polymers

The in situ polymerization of 1,1,3,3-tetraphenyl-1,3-disilacyclobutane with or without a catalyst in flexible organo-silicon polymers was demonstrated to provide poly(silmethylene)-based polymer blends. An alternative route, which implies preparation of blends via synthesis of a flexible polymer in the presence of a rigid polymer, was also promising. The resulting polymer blends were characterized by DSC, dynamic mechanical analysis, and solvent extraction. No chemical interaction is observed between component polymers of blends prepared by the in situ bulk polymerization method while formation of block or graft copolymers comprising poly(diphenylsilmethylene) and flexible polymers is suggested when in situ copper-catalyzed polymerization was employed. A morphological difference between samples synthesized by the different methods was suggested by microscopic observation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.