Properties of random and block copolymers of butadiene and styrene. II. Melt flow

Abstract

AbstractFlow curves, log (rate of shear) versus log (shear stress), as functions of temperature were obtained for several butadiene‐styrene copolymers of fixed (25%) styrene content, differing in monomer sequence distribution. A random copolymer of constant composition along the polymer chain and narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) exhibited behavior similar to linear, narrow MWD polybutadienes; the flow was Newtonian at low shear stresses, and the flow curves for various temperatures were accurately superimposable by a shift along the log (shear rate) axis. In a random copolymer varying in composition along the polymer chain, non‐Newtonian behavior was more pronounced, and temperature‐shear rate superposition did not succeed, a trend further perpetuated in copolymer of a single long styrene block sequence. The latter resemble branched polymers, as would be expected from association of the styrene blocks. With two styrene blocks, association produces network structures below the glass transition of polystyrene with consequent loss of flow. Disruption of these associations above Tg (styrene) imparts the greatest thermoplasticity to these elastomers. There is evidence, however, that some of the associations persist at temperatures well in excess of Tg (styrene).