Miscibility studies of poly(3-octylthiophene)/poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate) blends with a solvatochromatic shift in the solid state

The mixing of electrically conducting polymers in the undoped state with flexible polymers has been limited due to the stiffness of the delocalized coplanar backbone. The substitution with alkyl side chains has resulted in the distortion of the aromatic rings in the backbone with an increase of the flexibility. The alkyl substituents also prevent the thiophene back-bones from packing together, thus making blending with other polymers promising. We have investigated the phase behavior of poly(3-octylthiophene) (P3OT) with a flexible polymer, poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate) (vinylacetate composition 20%, EVA20), and defined a miscibility window based on melting point data, on cloud point measurements, and on analysis by optical microscopy. The miscible region has been studied by UV-VIS and CPMAS NMR spectroscopies. A UV absorption in the visible region originates from a π-π ^* transition in the delocalized structure of P3OT, and a change in the length of the conjugated segment in the backbone results in a shift of this absorption. A gradual solvatochromatic shift of P3OT in the solid state with dilution was observed in the miscible region. T₁ relaxation times for the methylene carbons in solid state show a gradual change in the relaxation process as a function of composition. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Miscibility study in the blends of novel poly (styrene-co-4-vinylphenyldimethylsilanol) and poly (n-butyl methacrylate)

The miscibility of poly (styrene-co-4-vinylphenyldimethylsilanol) (ST-VPDMS) and poly (n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) blends has been investigated by means of DSC and FT-IR spectroscopy. It was found that miscible blends were formed only for the copolymers containing 9–34 mol % 4-vinylphenyldimethylsilanol (VPDMS). The glass transition behavior of the miscible blends was analyzed by recently proposed equations in terms of the physical meaning of the fitting parameters. The results of FT-IR study were found to be fully consistent with the observation of the miscibility window obtained from glass transition temperature measurements. Quantitative information concerning intermolecular hydrogen bond interaction in the carbonyl stretching vibration region of the miscible blends was obtained by curve-fitting method. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of aromatic,aliphatic, and partially fluorinated epoxy resins

The α, β, and γ transitions at temperatures between ?200 and +100°C. of crosslinked aromatic and aliphatic epoxy polymers were determined from damping and shear modulus data, and compared with their fluorine containing analogs. Loci of segmental relaxation are suggested at various temperatures, and similarities between aliphatic and fluorocarbon segments, and polyethylene and polytetrafluoroethylene are discussed. Two systems of structurally similar monomers 2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoropentane diglycidyl ether-1,5 and 1,4-butane diglycidyl ether, and 2,2-bis(4-glycidyl phenyl ether)hexafluoropropane and 2,2-bis(4-glycidyl phenyl ether) propane were polymerized with the aid of two diamine curing agents, namely, ethylenediamine and m-xylylenediamine. Polymers of the aromatic diepoxides showed transitions with peaks at ?56°C. and above +70°C. Three main peaks were registered for the aliphatic and fluorocarbon diepoxides: at ?125 and at ?100°C., at ?56°C., and at 0°C. It is suggested that the T_g is affected by an interdependence of relaxation of all components of the polymer main chain.     

Chemiluminescence study of PS–PVME compatible mixtures

The oxidation of polystyrene (PS), poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME), and their mixtures has been studied by the chemiluminescence method. It was found that luminescence versus temperature curves had sharp inflections that shifted to higher temperatures with increasing PS content of the blends. A linear relationship was obtained between inflection temperatures and onsets of oxidation exotherms as measured by calorimetry. The inflection points for the mixtures also correlated linearly with the temperatures of thermally induced phase separation     

Alkali metal ion conductors based on sulfonated poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)

To obtain thermally stable and mechanically strong sodium and lithium conducting polymers, we prepared Na⁺ and Li⁺ poly(phenylene terephthalamide sulfonate salts) (MW ～ 5500). We also synthesized oligo(ethylene oxide) (3, 5, or 7 units of ethylene oxide) substituted ethylene carbonate and poly[oxymethylene-oligo(oxyethylene)]. These are high boiling point liquids with high dielectric constants as well as metal chelating properties. Polyelectrolyte systems were prepared by mixing Na⁺ or Li⁺ poly(phenylene terephthalamide sulfonate) salts with various amounts of modified ethylene carbonate and/or poly[oxymethylene-oligo(oxyethylene)]. Films (0.1–0.5 mm thick) obtained from the blends were found to have considerable mechanical strength; forming free standing films. The ionic conductivities of the Na⁺ and Li⁺ polyelectrolyte systems were 10^?6?10^?5 S/cm at 25°C. Thermal properties of these blend systems were investigated in detail. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Photo-oxidation of the 2,4-dichloropentanes and PVC

The photo-oxidation of PVC and its model compounds, the dl- and meso-2,4-dichloropentanes, were studied by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. The structure, ? CHCl? CH₂? CO? CH₂? was found to be present in PVC after photo-oxidation. Two peaks, which corresponded to the CHCl and CH₂ groups next to the carbonyl group, were observed in carbon disulfide–acetone-d₅ mixture, at 6.15 and 7.25τ, respectively. From the NMR spectra, the ratio of the CH₂ to CHCl protons in PVC and the model compounds were found to increase linearly with the time of photo-oxidation after induction periods. The initial rates of the model compounds were comparable with that of PVC; i.e., 1.6 × 10^?2 hr^?1, at 30°C. Since similar gaseous products were also detected by mass spectrometry in the initial stage, their photo-oxidation probably assumed the same rate-determining step. According to the results that the dl-2,4-dichloropentane was photo-oxidized 1.5 times faster than the meso-compound, it would be likely that the syndiotactic sequences in PVC might be more easily photo-oxidized than the isotactic sequences.     

Solubility and miscibility of poly(ethyl oxazoline)

The solubility of poly(ethyl oxazoline) in aqueous solutions was studied. The cloud point temperatures decreased in the presence of sodium chloride but increased by the addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide or dioxane. Solution-cast films of blends of the polymer and poly(acrylic acid) were miscible, but mutual precipitation occurred in water, methanol, and dioxane. The compositions of the complexes correspond in most cases to simple molar ratios of the interacting groups. The glass transition temperatures of the complexes are higher than the values for blends of the same compositions, and the high values are attributed to hydrogen bonds acting as physical crosslinks. Complex formation also occurs when the polymer is mixed with a styrene-acrylic acid copolymer and with low weight polymers containing phenol groups.