ISSN:
1572-8935
Keywords:
Polycaprolactone
;
Poly(benzyl methacrylate)
;
Miscibility
;
LCST
;
Reversibility
;
Binodal
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy were performed to examine the reversibility of phase separation at above the lower critical solution temperatures in a miscible poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBzMA) blend system. Upon heating, phase separation occurred via a binodal nucleation and growth (NG) mechanism at above 240 °C, which is a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The pattern of phase domains suggests that the phase separation was meta-stable. Interestingly, the LCST phase separation was found to be readily reversible to original homogeneity upon cooling at regularly accessible rates. A major factor may be that the temperature window between the LCST curve and blend Tg curve is wide, resulting in a convenient temperature range for the polymer chains to kinetically reorganize to a state favored by the thermodynamic conditions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10965-006-0058-3
Permalink
