Phase behavior in copolymer blends: poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and halogen-substituted styrene copolymers

Abstract

A recently introduced mean field theory of phase behavior in polymer/ copolymer systems is extended to random copolymer/ copolymer systems. Miscibility in these systems does not require any specific interaction but rather a "repulsion" between the different covalently bonded monomers of the copolymers. Conversely, immiscibility may occur in systems with specific interaction due to an "attraction" between the different covalently bonded monomers of the copolymers. Using the mean field approach, we discuss in detail the phase behavior in polymer/ copolymer systems. The requirements for the occurrence of a symmetric or an asymmetric (im)miscibility window in a temperature-copolymer composition diagram are derived. Using this treatment, we calculate all the segmental interaction parameters for blends of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) with poly(o-chlorostyrene-co-p-chlorostyrene), poly(o-fluorostyrene-co-p-fluorostyrene), poly(styrene-co-o-chlorostyrene), poly(styrene-co-p-chlorostyrene), poly(styrene-co-o-fluorostyrene), and poly(styrene-co-p-fluorostyrene). The absence of miscibility in blends of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) with any poly(o-bromostyrene-co-p-bromostyrene) copolymer is explained.