MISCIBILITY OF POLYSTYRENE WITH POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) AND POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL)

The intrinsic viscosity of polystyrene - poly( ethylene oxide) ( PS - PEG) and PS-poly( ethylene glycol) (PEG) blends have been measured in benzene as a function of blend composition for various molecular weigh ts of PEO and PEG at 303.15 K. The compatibility of polymer pairs in s olution were determined on the basis of the interaction parameter term , Delta b, and the difference between the experimental and theoretical weight-average intrinsic viscosities of the two polymers, Delta[eta]. The theoretical weight-average intrinsic viscosities were calculated by interpolation of the individual intrinsic viscosities of the blend components. The compatibility data based on [eta] determined by a sing le specific viscosity measurement, as a quick method for the determina tion of the intrinsic viscosity, were compared with that obtained from [eta] determined via the Huggins equation. The effect of molecular we ights of the blend components and the polymer structure on the extent of compatibility was studied. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 1471-1482, 1998.