X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of interactions between poly(p-vinylphenol) and poly(vinylpyridine)s

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements were made on complexes and blends obtained from poly(p-vinylphenol) (PVPh) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VPy) or poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VPy). Complexes were obtained by mixing the ethanol solutions of polymers and blends were obtained by solution-casting from N,N-dimethylformamide. Interactions between PVPh and the two poly(vinylpyridine)s are evidenced by the development of a high-binding energy (BE) component of the N1s electron and a low-BE component of the O1s electron. There are no significant differences in the strength of interaction between PVPh and poly(vinylpyridine)s in the complexes as compared to those in the blends. The position of the nitrogen in the pyridine ring does not have a significant effect on interpolymer interactions.