Thermal Dehydration and Miscibility of PHEMA/PMAA Blends

Miscibility and dehydration of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PHEMA/PMAA) blends were investigated by temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC), TG and solid-state ¹³C NMR methods. TMDSC spectra and ¹H spin-relaxation times showed that the blends are homogeneous on a scale of 5-10 nm for all compositions. From TG and ¹³C NMR, we elucidated that the mass loss of the blends at 300°C is ascribed to the dehydration between the hydroxyl group of PHEMA and the carboxyl group of PMAA. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.