Polymer compatibility: Ternary blends of poly(vinylidene chloride-co-vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene)

Mixtures of two compatible polymers, poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene) containing 40 percent acrylonitrile, can be compatible with poly(vinylidene chloride-co-vinyl chloride), which is incompatible and partially compatible respectively with these two polymers. The crystalline melting temperature and relative heat of fusion of poly(vinylidene chloride-co-vinyl chloride) in blends are higher than those in the pure component. This is attributed to greater ordering of the polymer chains in the crystalline phases of the blends. Replacing the rubber by poly(acrylonitrile-cobutadiene) containing 30 percent acrylonitrile, shows that these three polymers, in which each pair is incompatible or at most partially compatible, also form compatible ternary blends. The crystalline melting temperature is higher and relative heat of fusion lower than those in the pure component. This is attributed to dissolving of parts of the polymer chains originally located in the crystalline phases in the amorphous phases of the blends.