Effect of sample size on solvent extraction for detecting cocontinuity in polymer blends

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 423 - 428
• Main Authors: Galloway, Jeffrey A, Koester, Kurt J, Paasch, Benjamin J, Macosko, Christopher W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15-01-2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cocontinuous morphology; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymer blends; Properties and characterization; Solvent extraction; Structure, morphology and analysis; Solvent extraction; Cocontinuous morphology; Polymer blends; Ethylene oxide polymer; Investigation method; Sample size; Morphology; Size effect; Styrene polymer; Experimental study; Modeling
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2003.10.098

The effect of sample size on the results of solvent extraction measurements for detecting cocontinuity in polymer blends was investigated. Poly(ethylene oxide)/polystyrene (PEO/PS) blend samples of several thicknesses were analyzed by removing the PEO phase using water extraction. The experimental degree of continuity was shown to have a linear dependence on the reciprocal of sample thickness. A model is proposed to explain this dependence and to allow the bulk or true degree of continuity to be determined. Measurement of the bulk degree of continuity is useful for understanding properties of cocontinuous polymer blends such as electrical conductivity, impact strength, or tensile strength.