| Abstract: | Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and laser‐interferometric creep rate spectroscopy (CRS) were used for kinetic and discrete analysis of segmental motion within (and close to) glass transition range in polystyrene ‐ poly(α‐methyl styrene) (PS/PMS) and polystyrene ‐ poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PS/PVME) miscible blends. Two kinds of segmental dynamics heterogeneity were found. Separate ‘unfreezing’ of PS and PMS segmental motions was observed that manifested itself in two Tgs and simultaneous large drop in the Tg s, as well as glass transition activation energy, motional event scale and cooperativity degree values, down to the β‐relaxation parameters. The wide activation energy dispersion within a single broad glass transition in PS/PVME blends was found, and this relaxation region was subdivided, by CRS, into several predicted kinds of segmental motion. Both results are treated in the framework of the concept of common segmental nature of α‐ and β‐relaxations in flexible chain polymers. |
