Recoverable compliance of a series of bimodal molecular weight blends of polystyrene

Abstract

AbstractA series of bimodal molecular weight polystyrene blends was prepared. One component had a molecular weight greater than Mc and one less. The recoverable compliances were measured, and the retardation spectra determined via direct inversion. The retardation spectra of the blends are interpreted on the basis of the behavior of the spectra of the components, as a function of composition. It was observed that the low molecular weight component acted as a solvent. The effect of blending on the high molecular weight spectrum was to shift the position of the first peak to longer times and that of the second peak to shorter times. The peak separation was found to be proportional to the 3.4 power of the product of the molecular weight and the volume fraction of the high molecular weight component.