Phase behavior of blends of poly(vinyl chloride) with an α‐methyl styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer

Abstract

Abstract Poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, is shown to be miscible with an α‐methyl styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer, αMSAN, containing 30 percent AN by weight using differential scanning calorimetry for blends prepared by several methods. Melt blending gave single T g mixtures; whereas, solution techniques gave results that depended on the solvent choice and the manner in which it was removed. These blends do not phase separate on heating prior to significant PVC decomposition (∼250°C) in contrast to PVC/SAN blends which have much lower cloud points. Repulsion between α‐methyl styrene and acrylonitrile units in the copolymer is the principal cause for miscibility of this system as shown by an analysis based on a binary interaction model using calorimetry data for low molecular weight liquid analog compounds.