Local Relaxation Behavior and Dynamic Fragility in Hydrogen Bonded Polymer Blends

• Published in: Macromolecules 2010-11, Vol.43 (21), p.9004-9013
• Main Authors: Masser, Kevin A, Zhao, Hanqing, Painter, Paul C, Runt, James
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Electrical, magnetic and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Properties and characterization
• ISSN: 0024-9297; 1520-5835
• DOI: 10.1021/ma1020352

The dynamics of intermolecularly hydrogen-bonded polymer blends of poly(p-(hexafluoro-2-hydroxyl-2-propyl)styrene) with poly(vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene[30]-co-vinyl acetate[70]) and poly(ethylene[55]-co-vinyl acetate[45]) are investigated by broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Each blend component exhibits a glassy state (β) relaxation, and these relaxations are affected by the formation of intermolecular associations. The glassy state behavior of the blends can be modeled using the Painter−Coleman association model. All blends exhibit a single T g and a single dielectric segmental (α) relaxation, indicative of strong segmental-level coupling. The fragility of the glass-formers depends on the volume fraction of intermolecularly associated segments, and the association model predicts which compositions have the highest fragilities. A relaxation related to the breaking and reforming of hydrogen bonds is observed at temperatures above the α process, and its temperature dependence varies systematically with ethylene content.