Effect of intramolecular interactions on the miscibility windows of PVC blends with modified SAN copolymers

Abstract

We investigated the miscibility windows in the blends of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with chemically modified styrene/acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers such as a-methyl styrene/acrylonitrile (alpha SAN), alpha-methyl styrene/methacrylonitrile (MSMAN). The blends of PVC with alpha SAN were found to have the broader miscibility window. This enhanced miscibility was interpreted in terms of intramolecular repulsion that originates from unfavorable interaction between counits of the copolymers and also intramolecular association of AN units. The intramolecular interactions were studied by using Fourier transform infrared [FT-IR) spectroscopy. These interactions were reflected by a peak broadening in the nitrile stretching band in the acrylonitrile segments. The intermolecular interactions governing the miscibility in the blends of PVC with the series of copolymers were also discussed.