Fourier transform infrared studies of poly(vinyl chloride) blends with ethylene Co‐ and terpolymers

Abstract

AbstractThe miscibility of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with various ethylene copolymers and terpolymers were investigated using FT‐IR spectroscopy. All blends reported were 50/50 by weight. In blends of PVC with ethylene/dimethyl acrylamide copolymer (E/DMA), frequency shifts were observed in the amide carbonyl (proton acceptor) and the α‐hydrogen of PVC (proton donor) characteristic bands. In blends of PVC with ethylene/ethyl acrylate/carbon monoxide terpolymer (E/EA/CO), both the ester carbonyl and the ketone carbonyl characteristic frequencies showed mutual shifts and appeared as if they merged together. Small frequency shifts were also observed in the α‐hydrogen of PVC characteristic bands. In blends of PVC with ethylene/vinyl acetate/carbon monoxide terpolymer (E/VA/CO), the ester carbonyl frequency showed a shift while that of the ketone carbonyl was essentially unchanged. On the other hand, in PVC blends with ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer (E/VA), the ester CO frequency did not show any shift, which is consistent with their observed immiscibility. Thus, it is clear that incorporating a ketone CO in ethylene/ester copolymers to form the corresponding terpolymers enhances their miscibility with PVC as earlier proposed on the basis of dynamic mechanical studies. Similar results were shown for blends of PVC with ethylene/2 ethyl hexyl acrylate/carbon monoxide terpolymer (E/2EHA/CO). Frequency shifts imply specific interactions which suggest polymer‐polyer miscibility on a molecular scale.