COMPATIBILIZATION IN IONOMER BLENDS .2. COORDINATE COMPLEXATION AND PROTON-TRANSFER

Copolymers of poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) (SVp) and poly(butyl me thacrylate-co-4-vinylpyridine) (BmaVp) containing common minor units o f pyridine were prepared. The blends of BmaVp/SVp were reacted with a series of metal acetates and carboxylic acids respectively. Due to coo rdination complexation between the Vp units and metal-ions and proton- transfer from the acids to Vp units, in both cases the two component i onomers carry positive charge. DSC examination of the two kinds of ble nds show an apparent miscibility enhancement by introducing the ion gr oups although there is no favorable columbic interaction between the c omponent ionomers. These results provide a new evidence of compatibili zation in the blends of the ionomers with an identical charge.