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Nanoscale Blends between Immiscible Polymers via Simultaneous Non‐Interfering Polymerisation
Author(s) -
Zinck Philippe,
Brachais ClaireHélène,
Finot Eric,
BarbierBaudry Denise
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200400288
Subject(s) - polycaprolactone , polystyrene , dispersity , materials science , nanoscopic scale , polymer , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , styrene , polymerization , phase (matter) , polymer blend , nanometre , nanotechnology , composite material , copolymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Summary: An important topic in polymer science seeks to improve the performances of polymer blends using nanoscale phase segregation. Here, blends between polystyrene and polycaprolactone are realised by a chemical route. The non‐interfering character of the radical polymerisation of styrene and the lanthanide halide initiated ring‐opening polymerisation of caprolactone is assessed. The molecular weights range from 2 000 to 3 500 for polycaprolactone and up to 140 000 for polystyrene, with reasonable polydispersity indexes. From calorimetry measurements, it is shown that polystyrene and low molecular weight polycaprolactone are immiscible. The morphology of the blends between the two immiscible polymers studied by atomic force microscopy is consistent with nanometer‐scale phase segregation.AFM surface image of a nanoscale blend.