Tensile and transformational behavior of poly(ether sulfone) polycarbonate blends

Blends of a poly(ether sulfone) (PES) and a polycarbonate (PC) were prepared by melt-mixing and were studied by tensile tests, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, density measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The blends were found to be two-phase systems and an interfacial layer was presumed to be formed between two phases, which was verified by TEM. A synergism of elongation at break and tensile modulus was shown in PES/PC blends. The effects of the crosshead speed on the mechanical properties were discussed for blends with different PES/PC weight ratios.

Crystallization behaviour of poly(ether ether ketone)/poly(ether sulfone) block copolymer

The crystallization and melting behaviours of a multiblock copolymer comprising poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) and poly(ether sulfone) (PES) blocks whose number average molecular weights <((M)over bar (n)'s)> were 10 000 and 2900, respectively, were studied. The effect of thermal history on crystallization was investigated by wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurement. A differential scanning calorimeter was used to detect the thermal transitions and to monitor the energy evolved during the isothermal crystallization process from the melt. The results suggest that the crystallization of the copolymer becomes more difficult as compared with that of pure PEEK. The equilibrium melting point of the copolymer was found to be 357 degrees C, about 30 degrees C lower than that of pure PEEK. During the isothermal crystallization, relative crystallinity increased with crystallization time, following an Avrami equation with exponent n approximate to 2. The fold surface free energy for the copolymer crystallized from the melt was calculated to be 73 erg cm(-2), about 24 erg cm(-2) higher than that of pure PEEK. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.

The solution properties of phenolphthalein poly(arylether sulfone) .1. The solubility behavior and determination of M-II equations

A series of narrow molecular weight distribution fractions of phenolphthalein polyarylether sulfone(PES-C) had been prepared, The <(M) over bar (w)> of these fractions were determined by conventional light scattering method. The [eta] and the Huggins slope constant k' in DMF, CHCl3 and 1,2-dichloroethane were also determined. The Huggins constants are greater than 0.5 in all of these solvents showing a special solubility behavior. The Mark-Houwink equations of PES-C in these solvents at 25 degrees C are [eta] = 2.79 x 10(-2) <(M) over bar (0.615)(w)> (DMF); [eta] = 3.96 x 10(-2) <(M) over bar (0.58)(w)> (CHCl3); [eta] = 7.40 x 10(-2) <(M) over bar (0.52)(w)> (CH2ClCH2Cl).

Laser light-scattering study of novel thermoplastics .2. Phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone) (PES-C)

Five narrowly distributed fractions of phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone) (PES-C) were studied in CHCl3 by both static and dynamic laser light scattering (LLS) at 25 degrees C. The dynamic LLS showed that the PES-C samples contain some large polymer clusters as in previously studied phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone)(PEK-C). These large clusters can be removed by a 0.1-mu m filter. Our results showed that [R(g)(2)](1/2)(z) = (3.35 +/- 0.13) x 10(-2) M(w)((0.52 +/- 0.03)) and [D] = (2.26 +/- 0.02) x 10(-4)M(w)-((0.54) +/- 0.03)) with [R(g)(2)](1/2)(z), M(w) and [D] being the z-average radius of gyration, the weight-average molecular weight, and the z-average translational diffusion coefficient, respectively. A combination of static and dynamic LLS results enabled us to determine D = (2.45 +/- 0.04) x 10(-4)M-((0.55 +/- 0.05)), where D and M correspond to monodisperse species. Using this scaling relationship, we have successfully converted the translational diffusion coefficient distribution into the molecular weight distribution for each of the five PES-C fractional The weight-average molecular weights obtained from dynamic light scattering have a good agreement with that obtained from static laser light-scattering measurements.

Local chain motions in a dilute solution of phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone)

C-13 and H-1 relaxation times were measured as a function of temperature in two magnetic fields for dilute solutions of phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone) (PES-C) in deuterated chloroform. The spin-lattice relaxation times were interpreted in terms of segmental motion characterized by the sharp cutoff model of Jones and Stockmayer (J. S. model). The phenyl group rotation is treated as a stochastic diffusion by the J. S. model. The restricted butterfly motion of the phenyl group attached to the cardo ring in PES-C is mentioned but is not discussed in detail in this work. Correlation times for the segmental motion are in the picosecond range which indicates the high flexibility of PES-C chains. The correlation time for the phenyl group internal rotation is similar to that of the segmental motion. The temperature dependence of these motions is weak. The apparent activation energy of the motions considered is less than 10 kJ/mol. The simulating results for PES are also reasonable considering the differences in structure compared with PES-C. The correlation times and the apparent activation energy obtained using the J. S. model for the main chain motion of PES-C are the same as those obtained using the damped orientational diffusion model and the conformational jump model.

FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS AND MORPHOLOGY OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLY(ETHER SULFONE) THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMER BLENDS

Blends of a new phenolphthalein poly (ether sulfone) (PES-C) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) were prepared by melt-blending in a twin-screw extruder. Rheological properties, fracture toughness, K(IC), and morphology of the blends were

PHASE-BEHAVIOR IN EPOXY-RESIN CONTAINING PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLY(ETHER ETHER SULFONE)

Phenolphthalein poly(ether ether sulphone) (PES-C) was found to be miscible with uncured bisphenol-A-type epoxy resin, i.e. diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), as shown by the existence of a single glass transition temperature within the whole composition range. Miscibility between PES-C and DGEBA is considered to be due mainly to the entropy contribution. However, dynamic mechanical analysis (d.m.a.) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed that PES-C exhibits different miscibility with four cured epoxy resins (ER). The overall compatibility and the resulting morphology of the cured blends are dependent on the choice of cure agent. For the blends cured with amines (4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulphone (DDS)), no phase separation occurs as indicated by either d.m.a. or SEM. However, for the blends cured with anhydrides (maleic anhydride (MA) and phthalic anhydride (PA)), both d.m.a. and SEM clearly show evidence of phase separation. SEM study shows that the two phases interact well in the MA-cured blend while the interface between the phases in the PA-cured blend is poorly bonded. The differences in the overall compatibility and the resulting morphology between the amine-cured and anhydride-cured systems have been discussed from the points of view of both thermodynamics and kinetics.

MISCIBILITY OF POLY(HYDROXYETHER OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN) WITH POLY(ETHER SULFONE)

Blends of poly(hydroxyether of phenolphthalein) (PHP) with poly(ether sulphone) (PES) were prepared by casting from a common solvent; they were found to be miscible and show a single, composition-dependent glass transition temperature. All the PHP/PES blends exhibited lower critical solution temperature behaviour, i.e. phase separation occurred at elevated temperatures. A F.T.-i.r. study revealed that a hydrogen-bonding interaction occurs between these polymers but it is weaker than in pure PHP. The observed miscibility is hence proposed to be the result of specific interactions between the polymers.

TENSILE PROPERTIES OF BLENDS OF POLY(ETHER SULFONE) WITH A POLY(ETHER IMIDE)

Blends of poly(ether sulphone) (PES) with a poly(ether imide) (PEI) in various proportions were prepared by the coprecipitation method. Mechanical properties and morphology of the blends were studied using tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The tensile moduli exhibit positive deviations from simple additivity. Marked positive deviations were also observed for ultimate strength. These results suggest that the PEI/PES blends are mechanically compatible. SEM study revealed that the blends are not homogeneous and the polymers are immiscible on the segmental level. However, the dispersions of the blends are rather fine. The interfaces between the two phases are excellently bonded; PEI and PES appear to interact well.

MISCIBILITY OF POLY(N-VINYL-2-PYRROLIDONE) WITH POLY(ETHER SULFONE) AND 2 PHENOLPHTHALEIN-BASED POLYMERS

Blends of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) with poly(ether sulphone) and two phenolphthalein-based polymers, viz. phenolphthalein poly(ether ether sulphone) and phenolphthalein poly(ether ether ketone) were prepared by casting from a common solvent and studied by differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that all the PVP blends are miscible and show a single, composition-dependent glass transition temperature (T(g)). The T(g)-composition dependence has been analysed by the use of the Gordon-Taylor equation. The values of the k parameter in the Gordon-Taylor equation obtained are all not high for the three pairs, in accordance with the fact that there is no strongly specific interaction between PVP and any of the other polymers.