| Abstract: | Mixed networks based on polystyrene (PS) and styrene-ethylene/butylene triblock copolymer (SEBS) binary blends were synthesized via a postpolymerization Friedel-Crafts-type reaction employing styrene units and a bis-chloromethylated crosslinking agent. The swelling behavior of the produced gels was studied in relation to network densty, SEBS/PS mass ratio, and solubility parameter of the swelling media, in a range of aliphatic, chlorinated, and aromatic solvents. Swelling characteristics of the mixed macronets were found to differ markedly from those of pure homopolymer gels. Selective swelling was observed in three different regions in respect to the solvent solubility parameter, in contrast to pure PS networks where adsorption was favored in a single region of solvents. This phenomenon was found to depend primarily on the SEBS/PS constitution of gels, while the solvent holding capacity depended directly on the crosslinking density. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
