MISCIBILITY AND KINETICS OF PHASE-SEPARATION IN POLYMER BLENDS OF TETRAMETHYL-BISPHENOL-A POLYCARBONATE AND POLYSTYRENE

In this paper we report the phase boundaries of tetramethyl-bisphenol-A polycarbonate with polystyrene of different molecular weights, determined using light scattering techniques as well as microscopic methods. The early stages of spinodal decomposition were observed at several temperatures. Analysis of the data using the Cahn-Hillard theory showed that this theory is not able to quantitatively predict the early stages of spinodal decomposition for this blend. Inclusion of thermal fluctuation effects appears to be necessary. © 1990.