Compatibility of polyacrylates and polymethacrylates with poly(vinyl chloride): 2. Measurement of interaction parameters

Abstract

Interactions of various solvents with poly(vinyl chloride) and a series of polyacrylates and polymethacrylates have been studied by inverse gas chromatography. Values of the interaction parameters χ 12 have been calculated and show the importance of specific interactions between the polymers and the solvents. Low values of χ 12 indicating a strong interaction were found for the polyacrylates and polymethacrylates with a proton donating solvent, chloroform, and for the poly(vinyl chloride) with some proton accepting solvents, especially butan-2-one. Interactions of solvents, with mixtures of poly(vinyl chloride) with some compatible polyacrylates and polymethacrylates, have also been studied. From this, and using the values of χ 12 found above, values of the polymer-polymer interaction parameters χ 23 have been calculated. Low values of χ 23, indicating a strong interaction were found, especially for polymethacrylates and polyacrylates with shorter ester side chains. Lower values were obtained for polymethacrylates than polyacrylates again indicating greater interactions. These results fit in well with the results of a previous paper where we found that the polymers with longer ester side chains were not compatible with PVC or phase separated on heating, and that fewer acrylates than methacrylates are compatible with PVC.