Phase equilibrium and the morphology of the polystyrene-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-styrene system

The phase diagrams of several three-component polystyrene-poly(dimethylsilo xane)-styrene systems were studied. The pair thermodynamic parameters of mi xing of the components were determined. Bulk and suspension polymerizations of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-styrene mixtures were shown to yield a material which acquired the phase structure corresponding to the phase diagram at a certain degree of conversion. The special features of the resulting structu re were determined from the ratio between the rates of polymerization and d iffusion of polymer macromolecules into the surface layer of particles of a nother phase. Phase decomposition in the region of concentrated solutions w as found to cause phase morphology stabilization.