Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol.35, No.1, 97-103, 1997
Morphology and Class Transition Behavior of Polycarbonate-Phenoxy System - Effects of Trans-Reactions in Domain Interface Regions
Effects of trans reactions on the morphology, glass transition, and phase behavior in a classical blend system of a poly(hydroxyl ether bisphenol-A) (phenoxy) with bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical microscopy. Although two T(g)s were observed in the as-prepared PC/phenoxy blends, an apparently single, but broadened, T-g was found in the blends after heating at high temperatures, typically 200-250 degrees C for short times. The optical microscopy results indicated that same scales of heterogeneity did exist in post-heated PC/phenoxy blends as well as unheated blends. Explanations were provided. After heating-induced interchange reactions (-OH and carbonate), randomly linked polymer chains might form at the numerous interfaces of the mutually occluded/included micro-domains. The majority of the chains in the micro-domains are forced to relax in coordinated motion modes after heating, thus showing a single T-g. A mechanism of trans reactions in interfacial regions was briefly discussed in supplement to earlier reports in the literature.