Synthesis and application of polyarylate-poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymer as compatibilizer for polyarylate/poly(vinylidene fluoride) blend

Abstract

Polyarylate (PAR)-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) block copolymers were synthesized via radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate using a macroinitiator. The compatibilizing effect of this block copolymer in PAR/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blends was investigated by examining thermal properties, morphology and surface characteristics. The depression of melting point of PVDF and the increase in T g of PAR with increasing PAR content in PAR/PVDF/PAR-PMMA block copolymer ternary blends were accentuated by the addition of the PAR-PMMA block copolymer. Furthermore, a rather finer dispersion was obtained by the addition of block copolymer, which is evidenced also by contact angle measurements, showing that the contact angle of blend is greatly influenced by the presence of block copolymer. These experimental results clearly demonstrate the compatibilizing effect of PAR-PMMA block copolymer in PAR/PVDF blends.