Study of segmental orientation in poly (vinyl chloride)/poly (α-methyl-α-n-propyl-β-propiolactone) blends by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the segmental orientation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/poly (α-methyl-α-n-propyl-β-propiolactone) (PMPPL) blends in uniaxially stretched samples over a wide range of compositions and draw ratios. The results indicate that for pure PVC, syndiotactic segments reach a higher degree of orientation than isotactic segments and gauche conformations. Similarly, for pure PMPPL, crystalline segments orient more than amorphous segments at any given elongation. Thus, for both polymers, the higher orientation is obtained for the more rigid segments or those located in a more rigid (crystalline) phase. The addition of the macromolecular plasticizer PMPPL has no effect on the orientation of PVC syndiotactic segments, but it lowers the orientation of PVC gauche conformations, suggesting that the polyester is located in the amorphous regions of PVC. Finally, the PMPPL orientation function initially decreases with the addition of PVC and thereafter remains constant. The results are discussed in terms of interpenetrating networks and relaxation processes.