Miscibility and specific interactions in blends of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone hydrogenated) with poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)

The miscibility behavior of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone hydrogenated) (PVPhKH) and poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) are studied by differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy. Two miscibility windows between 10 to 40 and 60 to 90 wt % PPO are detected. Only the blend with 50 wt % PPO is immiscible. The best fit of the Gordon–Taylor equation of the experimental glass‐transition temperatures for miscible PVPhKH/PPO blends is shown. A study by FTIR spectroscopy suggests that hydrogen bonding interactions are formed between the hydroxyl groups of PVPhKH and the ether groups of PPO. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1887–1892, 2004     

Blends of SBS triblock copolymer with poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)/polystyrene mixture

Blends of styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) or styrene–ethylene/1‐butene–styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymers with a commercial mixture of polystyrene (PS) and poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) were prepared in the melt at different temperatures according to the chemical kind of the copolymer. Although solution‐cast SBS/PPO and SBS/PS blends were already known in the literature, a general and systematic study of the miscibility of the PS/PPO blend with a styrene‐based triblock copolymer in the melt was still missing. The thermal and mechanical behavior of SBS/(PPO/PS) blends was investigated by means of DSC and dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMTA). The results were then compared to analogous SEBS/(PPO/PS) blends, for which the presence of a saturated olefinic block allowed processing at higher temperatures (220°C instead of 180°C). All the blends were further characterized by SEM and TGA to tentatively relate the observed properties with the blends' morphology and degradation temperature. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2698–2705, 2003     

Effects of extensional flow on properties of polyamide‐66/poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) blends: A study of morphology,mechanical properties,and rheology

In this study, polyamide‐66/poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PA66/PPO) blends with high viscosity ratio were processed by a self‐designed triangle‐arrayed triple‐screw extruder (TTSE, which simulates extensional flow) and a commercial twin‐screw extruder (TSE), respectively. Furthermore, in order to improve the mechanical properties of the immiscible PA66/PPO blends, PPO‐grafted maleic anhydride (PPO‐g‐MA) and styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) block copolymer were used. The mechanical properties, phase morphology, and rheological properties of both binary PA66/PPO blends and toughened PA66/PPO/PPO‐g‐MA blends were comprehensively investigated to compare the above mentioned two processing method. Samples processed with TTSE exhibited better mechanical properties than the TSE‐processed blends. The morphologies of the blends were examined by scanning electron microscopy, exhibiting smaller particles sizes and narrower particle size distributions, which were attributed to the significant effects of extensional flow in TTSE. The toughening mechanism of compatibilized blends was investigated through morphology analysis, dynamic mechanical, and rhelogical analysis. Thus, TTSE with an extensional effect was proved to be efficient in the blending of high viscosity ratio polymers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:1090–1098, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

PPO–PC block‐copolymers used as compatibilizers in PS/PC blends

Block‐copolymers containing poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) and polycarbonate of bisphenol A (PC) segments were employed as compatibilizers in polystyrene (PS)/PC blends. Block‐copolymers were prepared starting from oligomeric diols‐terminated PPO and PC. The poly(phenylene ethers) was obtained by oxidative coupling of 2,6‐dimethyl‐phenol in presence of tetramethyl bisphenol A. The copolymers were obtained with a chain extension reaction between the starting oligomers using bischloroformate of bisphenol A or phosgene as coupling agent. PS/PC blends, cast from chloroform solutions or mixed by melt, were studied by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), dynamic‐mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and optical microscopy (OP). The thermal and morphological analyses showed a clear compatibilization effect between PS and PC, if PPO–PC copolymer is added when blending is performed in the melt; in addition, also mechanical properties are increased when compared with blends without PPO–PC. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4654–4660, 2006     

Characterization of polymer systems based on sulfonated poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)

The sulfonation reaction of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) has been carried out, incorporating the resulting product into pure PPO to study, in forthcoming research, the electrical and mechanical features of the composites with regard to their performance in fuel cells. Pure sulfonated polymers and their blends have been characterized from a microstructural and electrical point of view, by means of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and complex impedance spectroscopy. Membranes have been manufactured with excellent ionic conductivity at room temperature. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis of styrene–maleic anhydride random copolymer and its compatibilization to poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene ether)/brominated epoxy resin

Styrene–maleic anhydride random copolymer (R‐SMA_7.5), with a low content of maleic anhydride (MAH) of about 7.5 mol%, has been prepared, and the copolymer was characterized by fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) and ¹³C NMR techniques showing that the product contained only random copolymer without blocks. The miscibility between poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene ether) (PPE) and R‐SMA, was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), showing that PPE was miscible with R‐SMA synthesized in our laboratory over the entire composition with low MAH content. A blend of R‐SMA₁₈ (MAH content is about 18 mol%) and PPE was also studied by DSC, which showed that PPE was immiscible when R‐SMA was the major component, although it was miscible with limited composition. FTIR investigation showed that R‐SMA could react with bromide epoxy (BEP) resin at high temperature (180°). The heat‐resistance and mechanical properties of R‐SMA/PPE/BEP systems were tested and analyzed, and results indicated that R‐SMA could improve the miscibility of PPE and BEP with increasing T_g of the BEP phase and decreasing the T_g of the PPE slightly, improving the breaking elongation and breaking energy, which resulted from good miscibility between PPE and BEP with R‐SMA as the compatibilizer. Finally, the properties of the composites (copper clad laminate) with R‐SMA_7.5 are studied and discussed. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Phase behavior of binary and ternary blends of poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylic acid), poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine), and poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)

Poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylic acid) (PSMA) and poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) (PS4VP) of different compositions were prepared and characterized. The phase behavior of these copolymers as binary PSMA/PS4VP mixtures or with poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) as PPO/PSMA or PPO/PS4VP and PPO/PSMA/PS4VP ternary blends was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). This study showed that PPO was miscible with PS4VP containing up to 15 mol % 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) but immiscible with PS4VP‐30 (where the number following the hyphen refers to the percentage 4VP in the polymer) and PSMA‐20 (where the number following the hyphen refers to the percentage methacrylic acid in the polymer) over the entire composition range. To examine the morphology of the immiscible blends, scanning electron microscopy was used. Because of the hydrogen‐bonding specific interactions that occurred between the carboxylic groups of PSMA and the pyridine groups of PS4VP, chloroform solutions of PSMA‐20 and PS4VP‐15 formed interpolymer complexes. The obtained glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of the PSMA‐20/PS4VP‐15 complexes were found to be higher than those calculated from the additivity rule. Although, depending on the content of 4VP, the shape of the T_g of the PPO/PS4VP blends changed from concave to S‐shaped in the case of the miscible blends, two T_g were observed with each PPO/PS4VP‐30 and PPO/PS4VP‐40 blend. The thermal stability of the PSMA‐20/PS4VP‐15 interpolymer complexes was studied by thermogravimetry. On the basis of the obtained results, the phase behavior of the ternary PPO/PSMA‐20/PS4VP‐15 blends was investigated by DSC. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Compatibilization and toughening of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)/polyamide 6 alloy with poly(ethylene 1‐octene): Mechanical properties,morphology, and rheology

Blends of a poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO)/polyamide 6 (PA 6) alloy toughened with a novel polyolefin elastomer poly(ethylene‐1‐octene) (POE) were prepared via melt extrusion. In order to improve the compatibilization between POE and the PPO/PA 6 alloy, POE was grafted with maleic anhydride (MA), which could react with the amine group of PA 6. The Izod impact strength of the blends exhibited an optimum when the extent of MA grafting of POE was changed, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of the untoughened blends. The morphology revealed that the size of the POE particles decreased with an increasing MA grafting ratio of POE. Studies on the tensile properties and rheology of the blends were also carried out. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 3110–3116, 2003     

Preparation,curing properties,and phase morphology of epoxy‐novolac resin/multiepoxy‐terminated low‐molecular‐weight poly(phenylene oxide) blend

The multiepoxy‐terminated low‐molecular‐weight poly (phenylene oxide) (PPOE) was synthesized by modifying the terminal hydroxyl group of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) with epoxy‐novolac resin (EPN). The curing kinetics, phase morphology, and thermal stability of the cured EPN/PPOE blends were investigated and compared to the unmodified EPN/PPO and EPN/EPPO (epichlorohydrin‐modified PPO) blends. As revealed by the Fourier transform infrared and differential scanning calorimetry analyses, PPOE took part in the curing reaction and formed a crosslinked structure with EPN. The curing rate of EPN/PPOE blends first increased and then decreased with the increase of PPOE fraction. PPOE had both catalytic and steric hindrance effects on the curing reaction. EPN/PPOE blends showed faster curing rate and higher degree of curing than the corresponding EPN/PPO and EPN/EPPO blends. The reactive blending improved the dispersion of PPOE in EPN matrix and the thermal stability of the blend. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2595–2604, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Molecular simulation of miscibility of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene ether)/poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) blend with the compatibilizer triblock terpolymer SBM

Polymer blend of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene ether) (PPE) and poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (SAN), which has broad commercial interest, has limited miscibility. A triblock terpolymer, polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (SBM), is often used as compatibilizer to improve the miscibility of PPE/SAN. In this work, dissipative particle dynamics and molecular dynamics of Material Studio were used to study the essentials that influence miscibility of the blend systems, and then Flory–Huggins parameter χ, radial distribution function (RDF) and morphologies are analyzed. It shows that the blends with more content of styrene in SAN (above 90 wt%), whose mass percentage is 60%, are best miscible. For the systems of PPE/SAN added with SBM, the miscibility increases and then decreases with the increase of SBM content. A longer chain of styrene (S) in SBM leads to wrapped structure of PMMA by PB, wrapped by PS, resulting in decrease of the miscibility. From studies and simulation of χ and RDF, the best blend system for commercial and industrial use is the one with mass ratio of PPE/SAN/SBM 36/54/10, in which S content in SAN is above 90 wt%. For SBM, the ratio of chain length styrene (S)/butadiene (B) is lessthan 1, while B and M are the same in chain length. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Studies of functionalized polystyrene–poly(2, 6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) blends

The phase behavior of an immiscible binary component blend and its functionalized analogs were studied. The unfunctionalized blends are composed of polystyrene and poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide), whereas the functionalized versions contain a relatively broad range of ionic content, i.e., sodium sulfonate units. Extensive glass transition (T_g) measurements show that these blends are immiscible over a broad ionic content and molecular weight range. This phenomenon, however, does not inhibit these blends from possessing improved mechanical properties since the associating-type ionic interactions can effectively bridge the two phases. These results are in contrast with blends composed of unfunctionalized but miscible components. In this case, miscibility and immiscibility can be tailored through the precise control of the level of functionalization of one or both components of the blend.     

Proton exchange composite membranes from blends of brominated and sulfonated poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)

New composite proton exchange membrane was prepared by mixing a 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) solution of sulfonated poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (SPPO) in sodium form and brominated poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (BPPO) for hydrophilic‐hydrophobic balance, then casting the solution as a thin film, evaporating the solvent, and treating the membrane with aqueous hydrochloric acid. The resulting membranes were subsequently characterized using FTIR‐ATR, SEM‐EDXA, and TGA instrumentation as well as measurements of basic properties such as ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and single cell performance. Water uptake, IEC, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability all increased with a corresponding increase of SPPO content. By properly compromising the conductivity and methanol permeability, membranes with 60–80 wt % SPPO content exhibited comparable proton conductivity to that of Nafion^® 117, with only half the methanol permeability, thereby demonstrating higher single cell performance. The membranes developed in this study could thus be a suitable candidate electrolyte for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Biodegradable blends of high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) with poly(3‐hydroxypropionic acid) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyric acid): a miscibility study by DSC,DMTA and NMR spectroscopy

The miscibility of high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) blends with poly(3‐hydroxypropionic acid) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyric acid) (P(3HB)) has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and high‐resolution solid state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The DSC thermal behaviour of the blends revealed that the binary blends of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(3‐hydroxypropionic acid) (OP blends) were miscible over the whole composition range while the miscibility of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyric acid) blends (OB blends) was dependent on the blend composition. OB blends were found to be partly miscible at the middle P(3HB) contents (25 %, 50 %) and miscible at other P(3HB) contents (10 %, 75 % and 90 %). Single‐phase behaviour for OP blends and phase separation behaviour for OB blends were observed from DMTA. The results from NMR spectroscopy revealed that the two components in the OP50 blend were intimately mixed on a scale of about 35 nm, while the domain sizes in the OB blend with a P(3HB) content of 50 % were larger than about 32 nm. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Compatibilization of PPO/LCP blends by semi‐interpenetrating liquid crystalline polymer networks LCP/PS

A new approach for enhancing the compatibility of liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) with engineering thermoplastics is developed in this paper. By adding a new type of compatibilizer to poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO)/LCP blends (semi‐interpenetrating LCP network (ILCPN) comprising the liquid crystalline polymer poly‐(ethylene terephthalate)/p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (PET/60PHB) and crosslinked polystyrene), a well‐compatibilized PPO/LCP composite with considerably improved mechanical properties was obtained. Compared with the uncompatibilized PPO/LCP blend, the bending strength and the Izod impact strength of the compatibilized sample with 5% semi‐ILCPN increase more than 2 and 4 times, respectively.     

Study on poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)/SBS triblock copolymer blends

The relationship between the miscibility and the physical properties of polymer blends of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and polystyrene (PS), high-impact polystyrene (IPS) and poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) (SBS), which are blended in different compositions by a twin-screw extruder is discussed. The three types of SBS that were used are SBS1, SBS2 and SBS3 having different styrene/butadiene ratios. Dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to study the miscibility. The morphology was examined by SEM. The miscibility of the blends decreases with decreasing PS content. The notch sensitivity is improved by blending. Finally, the micelle model was used to explain the testing phenomena.     

Properties of the polyethylene/poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)/polystyrene system in the presence of SEPS block copolymers

An immiscible polymer system of polyethylene (HDPE)/poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)/polystyrene was compatibilized in the presence of a specific formulated compatibilizer and the properties of this system were studied, in particular, as a function of the poly(phenylene ether) and polystyrene content in the blend with polyethylene and as a function of compatibilizer concentration. The compatibilizer used was a hydrogenated styrene/isoprene/styrene triblock copolymer (SEPS) which also contained quantities of polypropylene and paraffin oil. Selected thermal, mechanical, and processing properties were investigated and their special features are discussed. In relation to specific properties like the modulus of elasticity and notched Izod impact strength, the polymer system with a hydrogenated SEPS triblock copolymer investigated seems to be a better compatibilized system than other blends described. The phase behavior of the polymer system was characterized using DSC and showed three general polymer phases: a partially crystalline polyethylene phase, an amorphous mixed phase of miscible poly(phenylene ether) and polystyrene, as well as a preferred isotactic crystalline polypropylene phase. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 1835–1842, 1997     

Ionomeric blends of poly(ethylene oxide) with poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) ionomer: Miscibility,crystallization, and melting behavior

The miscibility and crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) ionomer (SMAI) blends were studied by the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). This study has demonstrated that the presence of ion–dipole interactions enhances the miscibility of otherwise immiscible polymers in the PEO and high molecular weight poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) (SMA). The effect of ion–dipole interactions on enhancing miscibility is confirmed by the presence of a single glass transition temperature (T_g) and a depression of the equilibrium melting temperature of the PEO component. The equilibrium melting temperature of PEO in the blends are obtained using Hoffman‐Weeks plots. The interaction energy density, β, is calculated from these data using the Nishi‐Wang equation. The results suggest that PEO and SMAI blends are thermodynamically miscible in the melt. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 1–7, 2000     

Phase behavior of ternary blends containing dimethylpolycarbonate,tetramethylpolycarbonate and poly[styrene‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)] copolymers (or polystyrene)

The miscibility and phase behavior of ternary blends containing dimethylpolycarbonate (DMPC), tetramethylpolycarbonate (TMPC) and poly[styrene‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)] copolymer (SMMA) have been explored. Ternary blends containing polystyrene (PS) instead of SMMA were also examined. Blends of DMPC with SMMA copolymers (or PS) did not form miscible blends regardless of methyl methacrylate (MMA) content in copolymers. However, DMPC blends with SMMA (or PS) blends become miscible by adding TMPC. The miscible region of ternary blends is compared with the previously determined miscibility region of binary blends having the same chemical components and compositions. The region where the ternary blends are miscible is much narrower than that of binary blends. Based on lattice fluid theory, the observed phase behavior of ternary blends was analyzed. Even though the term representing the Gibbs free energy change of mixing for certain ternary blends had a negative value, blends were immiscible. It was revealed that a negative value of the Gibbs free energy change of mixing was not a sufficient condition for miscible ternary blends because of the asymmetry in the binary interactions involved in ternary blends. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of nylon 6 on fracture behavior and morphology of tough blends of poly(2, 6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) and maleated styrene‐ethylene‐butadiene‐styrene block copolymer

Ternary blends of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO), nylon 6, and styrene‐ethylene‐butadiene‐styrene block copolymer grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA) were prepared via a melt extrusion, and the fracture behavior, morphology, mechanical properties, and rheology were studied. The compatibilization of the blended components was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. Mechanical properties evaluation demonstrated that incorporation of nylon 6 resulted in an improvement of the tensile strength, but reduction of both the notched Izod impact strength and elongation at break. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation revealed that the network structure of SEBS‐g‐MA domain was gradually destroyed by incorporating the nylon 6. A conversion of SEBS‐g‐MA domain from the network to the irregular dispersed phase took place when the nylon 6 content reached 20 wt %, which resulted in a reduction of the impact strength. Fracture morphology implied that increase of the tensile strength was caused by the plastic deformation of matrix. Rheology investigation indicated that the melt viscosities could be reduced significantly with increasing the content of nylon 6; thus, the processability was improved. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99:3336–3343, 2006     

Synthesis,characterization and thermal properties of functionalized poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)s containing ethylenic,aldehydic, hydroxyl and acrylate pendant groups

New functionalized poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)s (PPOs) containing ethylenic, aldehydic, hydroxyl and acrylate pendant groups were synthesized and their structure, properties and curing kinetics were investigated. The incorporation of polar functional groups resulted in an improvement in the glass transition temperature in the order aldehydic PPO > acrylate PPO > hydroxyl PPO > vinyl PPO > brominated PPO > pristine PPO. Upon thermal curing, the electron‐donating substituent in the vinyl PPO resulted in an increase in the activation energy in the order –Pr, –Bu > –Ph > –H, whereas the electron‐withdrawing substituent in the acrylate PPO caused a slight decrease in the activation energy. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry