9712194 Weiss This research is directed at the characterization of the interactions and phase behavior of ionomer/homopolymer blends and specifically the following objectives: 1. to understand the macrophase and microphase behavior of blends in which miscibility results from strong attractive intermolecular interactions or repulsive intramolecular interactions; 2. to define the role of the ionomer counterion, ionic concentration and polymer molecular weight on the phase behavior and properties of the blends; 3. to determine the effect of strong attractive or repulsive interactions on the spinodal decomposition kinetics and the resulting morphology of critical mixtures; and 4. to determine the interfacial behavior of these blends. Two systems will be investigated: (I) blends of lightly sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) and a methylated polyamide and (2) SPS and bisphenol A polycarbonate. The former is an example of a blend with specific attractive intermolecular interactions, and the latter is a blend for which miscibility occurs due to intramolecular repulsive effects. The specific experimental techniques that will be employed include light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, small angle x-ray scattering, neutron reflectance and rheological analyses. %%% An ionomer blended with another polymer represents a special class of copolymer/homopolymer blends in which one of the components carries a charge. The presence of the ionic species may permit very strong, attractive intermolecular interactions with another polymer and/or strong intramolecular repulsions within the ionomer. Either phenomena may induce miscibility of two otherwise immiscible polymers. ***
