Poly(ethylene oxide)-polyelectrolyte blends: viscometric and thermal analysis behaviour

The miscibility of binary poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and sodium poly(4-styr ene sulphonate) (PSS) or [3,6]-ionene (ION) systems, was analysed in aqueou s solutions and in the solid state by viscometry and thermal analysis, resp ectively. Both techniques indicate partial miscibility of PEO-PSS and immis cibility of PEG-ION blends. In water solution, the partial miscibility of t he PEO-PSS system is probably due to the counterion Na+ which can partially provide the driving force association in a similar manner to that observed for PEO-surfactant systems. In blend films, the PEO-polyelectrolyte intera ction is also analysed in terms of the effect on the PEO crystallization ob served through optical microscopy, and the results indicate compatibility b etween the components in the PEO-PSS system. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical I ndustry.