The study of poly(styrene-co-p-(hexafluoro-2-hydroxylisopropyl)-α-methyl-styrene)/poly(propylene carbonate) blends by ESR spin probe and Raman

Different hydroxyl content poly(styrene-co-p-(hexafluoro-2-hydroxyisopropyl)-α-methylstyene) [PS(OH)] copolymers were synthesized and blends [noted for PP-X] with poly(propylene carbonate) [PPC] were prepared by casting from chloroform solution. The miscibility, micro heterogeneity and hydrogen bonding interaction of the component polymers were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spin probe method and Micro Raman spectroscopy. DSC results showed that the PP-2, PP-5, PP-8, PP-12 blends exhibited two distinct Tgs, indicating immiscibility, while the PP-20 and PP-27 blends were miscible with the existence of a single Tg. ESR results indicated that the probe molecule: Tempo couldnʹt give clear micro phase separation or miscibility information and thus was not sensitive to the investigated polymer blends system. On the contrary for all the blends spin probed with the probe molecules: Tempol and Tamine, two spectral components with different rates of motion: ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ motion were observed in different temperature range, which indicated the existence of micro heterogeneity on the molecular level; the more mobile PPC-rich micro phase and the more rigid PS(OH) rich micro phase. In addition, the scale of miscibility was progressively enhanced due to the increasing hydrogen bonding interaction between the hydroxyl in PS(OH) and the oxygen atoms in PPC. Meanwhile it was found that the degree of the probe molecule rotation detectable in the ESR spectrum was dependent on the polymer matrix rigidity and the strength of the hydrogen bonding between the probe molecule and the polymer matrix. Micro Raman substantiated the existence of the PS(OH)-rich micro phase and the PPC-rich micro phase. The hydrogen bonding strength between PS(OH) and PPC and the mixing level of the component polymers were increased gradually with the increase of hydroxyl content in the PS(OH) copolymer.