COMPATIBILITY STUDIES ON SOLUTION OF POLYSTYRENE /POLY (METHYL METHACRYLATE) AND POLY (VINYL CHLORIDE) / POLY (METHYL METHACRYLATE) BLENDS USING VISCOMETRY, FOURIER TRANSFORMS INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY AND DENSITY METHODS

Abstract:

Studies on solution of polystyrene /poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl chloride) /poly(methyl methacrylate) were carried out to ascertain the compatibility of the polymer-polymer blends at temperature of 300C using chloroform as solvent. Viscometric values of relative viscosity (Ƞrel) versus concentration of PS/PMMA were plotted, which gave S-shape indicating a heterogeneous mixture, whereas PVC/PMMA plot was observed to be homogenous mixtures indicating some level of linearity on different composition such as 0.4:1.6, 1.6:0.4, and 1.8:0.2 which may be used in polymer industry based on its area of applications. The experimental density of PS/PMMA blends were observed to be lower than the calculated values attributed to less chain packing in the blend solution as evidence of incompatibility, whereas PVC/PMMA showed an increase in experimental values than the calculated values which proved some level of compatibility. In addition, Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy method reveals that, PS/PMMA blend spectrum indicated no change in the position of either peak of aromatic ring of PS or lone pair peak of PMMA indicating incompatibility of the blend. Whereas there is existence of interaction between the carbonyl group (C=O) of PMMA and hydrogen atom of CHCl group of PVC in the entire composition indicating evidence of compatibility of the blend. Physiochemical analysis by use of FTIR method also reveals that poly (vinyl chloride)and Poly (methyl methacrylate) exhibited a positive molecular characteristics of apolymer blends. The viscometric and density methods have proved to be easy and reliable ways for determiningcompatibility of polymer blends in solution.