Polymer blends of poly(ethylene‐2,6‐naphthalate) with polystyrene compatibilized by styrene‐glycidyl methacrylate copolymers. I. Rheology, morphology, and mechanical properties

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The compatibilization of blends of poly(ethylene-2,6-naphthalate) (PEN) with polystyrene (PS), through the styrene-glycidyl methacrylate copolymers (SG) containing various glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) contents, was investigated in this study. SG copolymers are able to react with PEN terminal groups during melt blending, resulting in the formation of desirable SG-g-PEN copolymers in the blend. These in situ formed copolymers tend to reside along the interface preferentially as the result of interfacial reaction and thus function as effective compatibilizers in PEN/PS blends. The compatibilized blends exhibit higher viscosity, finer phase domain, and improved mechanical properties. It is found that the degree of grafting of the in situ formed SG-g-PEN copolymer has to be considered as well. In blends compatibilized with the SG copolymer containing higher GMA content, heavily grafted copolymers would be produced. The length of the styrene segment in these heavily grafted copolymers would be too short to penetrate deep enough into the PS phase to form effective entanglements, resulting in the lower compatibilization efficiency in PEN/PS blends. Consequently, the in situ formation of SGg-PEN copolymers with an optimal degree of grafting is the key to achieving the best performance for the eventually produced PEN/PS blends through SG copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: [967][968][969][970][971][972][973][974][975] 2003

Relation of free volume and barrier properties in the miscible blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) and nylon 6-clay nanocomposites film

“…For polymers, the widely used method of creating a barrier layer is by lamination or co-extrusion [1][2][3][4] with a high-barrier polymer, such as poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) or nylon 6 (PA6). However, compared with the above well-developed processing methods, the process of simple blending a barrier polymer with another higher-barrier material to achieve excellent barrier properties is attractive for industrial applications due to low cost and convenience associated with the processing facility [5,6], compared to the lamination or synthesis of new ones.…”

“…There are great interests in the development of polymers with higher barrier properties to gas and/or solvent permeation for application in the packaging industry [1][2][3][4][5][6]. For polymers, the widely used method of creating a barrier layer is by lamination or co-extrusion [1][2][3][4] with a high-barrier polymer, such as poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) or nylon 6 (PA6).…”

Poly(naphthalates)

“…52 The compatibilized blends exhibit higher viscosity, finer phase domain, and improved mechanical properties. Styrene/glycidyl methacrylate (SG) copolymers react with the terminal groups of PEN during melt blending.…”