Compatibilization of the polystyrene/poly(ethyl acrylate) and polystyrene/polysoprene systems through ionic interactions

Abstract

Abstract Interactions between anions on one polymer chain with cations on another can lead to compatibilization of otherwise incompatible materials. Thus, if 5 mol% of ∼SO 3 H groups are attached to polystyrene, and 5 mol% of vinyl pyridine is copolymerized with ethyl acrylate, proton transfer occurs upon mixing, and the pairwise attractive interactions between the resultant ions compatibilize the blend. The same has been observed for the styrene‐vinyl pyridine and sulfonated polyisoprene polymer pair. Dynamic mechanical and optical properties are used as a measure of compatibilization.