Specific interactions in miscible poly(p-vinylphenol)/poly(N-methyl-3-piperidinemethyl methacrylate) blends

Poly(p-vinylphenol) (PVPh) is miscible with poly(N-methyl-3-piperidinemethy l methacrylate) (PM3PMA). The glass transition temperatures of the blends a re higher than those calculated from a linear additivity rule. Fourier tran sform infrared spectroscopy shows the existence of hydrogen-bonding interac tions between the hydroxyl groups of PVPh and the carbonyl groups of PM3PMA . in addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the piperidine n itrogen atoms of PM3PMA also interact with the hydroxyl groups of PVPh as s hown by the development of a high-binding-energy N 1s peak in blend. Tn con trast, we have earlier reported that the nitrogen atoms of poly(N-methyl-4- piperidyl late) are not involved in hydrogen-bonding interactions with PVPh . To better understand the interactions in various blends, ab initio calcul ations were performed on hydrogen-bonded dimers of saturated monomers.