Polymer-polymer interaction parameters in the ternary system polystyrene/poly(α-methyl styrene)/n-butyl chloride

The polymer-polymer interaction parameter χ′12, for the polystyrene/poly(α-methyl styrene)/n-butyl chloride ternary system, has been determined from activity coefficients of the solution measured using piezoelectric vapour sorption methods in the temperature range 30°–60°C. (These measurements where carried out in the concentration range 0.06 < ψ₀ < 0.26, where ψ is the segment fraction of the solvent). The values of χ¹⁰₁₂ extrapolated to zero solvent concentration over the range 30°–60°C, are large and negative (−0.2 to −0.9) χ¹₁₂ was found to increase with ψ₀. The negative values of χ¹₁₂ in this work are in agreement with the T_g in the polystyrene

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M_w = 9.09 × 10⁴) blends on the point of blend compatibility. The polymer-polymer interaction parameters obtained in this work are discussed by taking into account the high susceptibility of polymers in the glassy state to solution of organic solvents.