HEXAFLUORO-2-HYDROXY-2-PROPYL-MODIFIED POLYISOPRENE BLENDS

Dimensionlesa equilibrium constants describing the self-association of the hexafluoro-2-alkyl-2-propanol group have been determined from infrared spectroscopic data. Corresponding values of these equilibrium constants for a fully modified polyisoprene containing the hexafluoroisopropanol group (PHFPI) were calculated by taking into account differences in the molar volume of the model and the specific repeat unit of the polymer. Equilibrium constants describing the inter-association of PHFPI with methacrylate, acrylate, and acetoxy type carbonyl groups were obtained from spectroscopic studies of miscible PHFPI blends with poly (n -butyl methacrylate), poly (methyl acrylate), and an ethylene-co-vinyl acetate copolymer containing 70 wt % vinyl acetate. The set of equilibrium constant values were then used to calculate theoretical miscibility windows for the complete range of PHFPI blends with poly(n-alkyl methacrylate)s and four copolymers, ethylene-co-methyl methacrylate, styrene-co-methyl acrylate, ethylene-co-methyl acrylate, and ethylene-co-vinyl acetate. Experimental infrared studies confirm the general validity of the predicted miscibility windows. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.