| Abstract: | —Contact angle studies of miscible poly(vinyl chloride)/epoxidized natural rubber (PVC/ ENR) blends were carried out in air using water and methylene iodide. The solid surface free energy was calculated from harmonic mean equations. Blending of PVC and ENR decreased their contact angle or increased their solid surface free energy due to the improved chain mobility, and the accumulation of excess polar sites at the surface through conformational alterations resulting from the specific interaction of PVC and ENR. The work of adhesion, interfacial free energy, spreading coefficient, and Girifalco-Good's interaction parameter changed markedly with the blend composition. In blends, PVC and ENR improved hydrophilicity, and wettability with polar and non-polar liquids. The presence of a plasticizer in PVC, in general, further improved the wettability and hydrophilicity in blends. |
