COMPATIBILIZATION IN IONOMER BLENDS .1. IONOMERS WITH IDENTICAL CHARGE

Two kinds of copolymers, i.e. poly(styrene-co-methacrylic acid) (SMaa) and poly(butyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (BmaMaa) containing a common but minor (10-20%) component of methacrylic acid, were synthe sized. The blends of the corresponding ionomers of SMaa and BmaMaa neu tralized with a series of metal-ions produced by solvent casting and m oulding were examined by DSC and TEM. It has been shown that introduci ng metal-ions to the blends of copolymers apparently improves the misc ibility. This miscibility enhancement depends on the nature and amount of the counter ions. In the case of SMaa-Na+/BmaMaa-Na+ even a single -phase blend can be produced. The results confirm compatibilization in the blends of similar-charged ionomers.