Comparison of Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Melt Crystallization in Blend and Block Copolymer Systems with Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) and Poly (Tert-Butyl Methacrylate)

DSC investigations are reported for a broad assortment of blends and copolymers of the immiscible poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/poly(tert-butyl) methacrylate) (PTBMA) system. Contrary to expectations, the PEO crystallization and melting behavior of the copolymer system is similar to that of the PEO/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) copolymer system (which is usually considered to be miscible in the melt). This is discussed with the concept of a UCST-type granulated demixing in the latter. In both systems the crystallization is rather sensitive to the block structure, even for comparable molecular weights and compositions. This indicates some importance of DSC as an additional tool in copolymer characterization. Free PEO ends favor the crystallization in all cases.