Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.99, No.5, 2033-2038, 2006
Mechanical, thermomechanical, and morphology of PVC/PBMA blends and full IPNs
Blends and full IPNs' of poly(vinyl chloride) and polybutylmethacrylate (PBMA) have been synthesized and characterized with respect to their mechanical, thermomechanical, and morphological properties. Both the systems displayed a rise in the modulus and ultimate tensile strength and a consequent decreasing tendency of elongation at break and toughness are exhibited. The influence of crosslinking of the two polymers as has been done in case of full IPNs ever the ordinary blends is quite well understood from these properties. The thermomechanical analysis revealed a substantial rise in stability with increasing methacrylate concentration in the system and this is quite apparent from the softening characteristics of the different samples under study. The biphasic cocontinuous systems as explicit from the morphological studies support phase mixing at the initial stages, with subsequent phasing out tendency with increasing percentage of PBMA incorporation. The thermomechanical parameters are in conformity to their mechanicals which have been further supported by their morphological studies.