Comparison of clustering in various acrylate ionomers

The clustering behavior of three well clustered acrylate ionomers, i.e. pol y(ethyl acrylate -co-Na acrylate) (PEA), poly(styrene-co-Na acrylate) (PS), and poly(vinylcyclohexane-co-Na acrylate) (PVCH) ionomers, was compared. I t was found that the cluster phase became dominant at ca. 5 mol% for die PE A and PS ionomers but at 9 mol% for the PVCH ionomer. In addition, the temp erature differences between the: matrix and cluster T(g)s were 54, 55 and 4 9 degreesC fur the PEA, PS, and PVCH ionomers, respectively. The very simil ar values for the PEA and PS ionomers, in spite of their difference in matr ix T(g)s themselves, led to a postulation that the PEA ionomers have bigger multiplets and longer persistence length than the PS ionomers. (C) 2001 Pu blished by Elsevier Science.