MISCIBILITY OF POLY(BUTYL METHACRYLATE-CO-METHACRYLIC ACID) OR POLY(STYRENE-CO-METHACRYLIC ACID) WITH POLY(STYRENE-CO-4-VINYLPYRIDINE) OR POLY(BUTYL METHACRYLATE-CO-4-VINYLPYRIDINE)

The miscibility of blends of copolymers of different compositions of butyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid or styrene-co-methacrylic acid with styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine or butyl methacrylate-co-4-vinylpyridine was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It was found that these blends were miscible in part as a result of specific favorable interactions between the carboxylic acid and pyridine groups within the polymer chains. Evidence of such interactions was obtained from the single composition-dependent glass transition temperature and the FTIR results.