Compatibility studies of styrene and hydroxyl containing styrene copolymers with poly(ethylene oxide)

Abstract

Abstract Copolymers of styrene with vinylphenyl trifluoromethyl carbinol, p ‐vinylphenyl trifluoromethyl carbinol, vinylphenyl hexafluorodimethyl carbinol, and p ‐vinylphenol are conditionally compatible with poly(ethylene oxide), depending on their composition and blending ratios, whereas copolymers of styrene and vinylphenyl methyl carbinol are much less compatible with poly(ethylene oxide), as determined by T g criteria and differential scanning calorimetry. The crystallinity of poly(ethylene oxide) is changed in the copolymer/poly(ethylene oxide) blends, as indicated by depressions of the poly(ethylene oxide) melting point. Hydrogen‐bond formation has been studied in two selected blends by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Hydrogen bonding dissociation and reassociation as a function of temperature are reported. The conformation changes of poly(ethylene oxide) in the blends, the interaction between copolymer and poly(ethylene oxide) as well as in the reference blend, polystyrene/poly(ethylene oxide), are also investigated.