Abstract
Poly(diphenylsilmethylene) (PDPSM)/poly(methylphenylsilmethylene) (PMPSM) binary polymer blends were synthesized by in situ ring-opening polymerization of 1,1,3,3-tetraphenyl-1,3-disilacyclobutane in PMPSM. Three catalytic methods as well as a noncatalytic method were employed. Radical initiators such as an organic peroxide or azo-compound proved to be the effective catalysts in addition to copper compounds. Blend samples were characterized in detail by DSC, dynamic mechanical analysis, solvent extraction, and microscopic observation to clarify the relationship between the preparative method and the properties of these polymer blends. It is strongly suggested that a part of PMPSM is converted into an insoluble form via formation of PDPSM-PMPSM block or graft copolymers in the case of the in situ copper-catalyzed polymerization in xylene. The formation of block or graft copolymers is also suggested for samples prepared by the in situ bulk polymerization in the presence of a radical initiator. However, PMPSMs simultaneously underwent molecular weight decrease and insolubilization probably due to polymer chain scission and crosslinking, respectively, when the latter method was employed using PMPSM with very high molecular weight.
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