Relation between the repulsion of incompatible and compatible polymers in solution and their degree of mixing in the solid state: the memory effect

Abstract

The incompatible polymer pairs polystyrene (PS)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS)/poly(oxyethylene) (POE) and the compatible polymer pair POE/PMMA have been studied in solution and in the solid state. A close relation is observed between the behaviour in solution and in the solid state for both incompatible and compatible polymer mixtures. When we use a selective solvent and when the molecular masses of the polymers of the mixture are different, even compatible polymers behave like incompatible polymers; the obtained films present an important demixing. The opposite is observed when the films are obtained by casting from a common solvent and when the two polymers possess similar molecular masses. In this case, even incompatible polymers behave like compatible polymers. These results confirm the already reported memory effect when we go from the solution to the solid state. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry