Towards a better mixing of two incompatible polymers by casting from solution without compatibilizer

Blends of polystyrene/poly(oxyethylene) (PS/POE) and polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS/PMMA) have been obtained by casting from solution. Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Optical Microscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy showed that two incompatible polymers can present relatively good miscibility (formation of domains smaller than 5 mu m) when the solvent from which the films are obtained does not present any noticeable selectivity towards the two polymers of the blends. An increase of the casting temperature increases the miscibility of PS and PMMA because the selectivity of the solvent used, towards these polymers decreases with increasing temperature. On the contrary, an increase of the casting temperature in the case of the PS and POE mixture decreases their miscibility because the selectivity of the solvent used increases with increasing temperature. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.