CRYSTALLIZATION OF POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) IN BINARY POLYMER BLENDS - INFLUENCE OF TACTICITY OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)

Kinetics of the crystallization of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) from the PEO blends with syndiotactic, atactic, or isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (s‐, a‐, and i‐PMMA) was investigated. The isothermal spherulitic growth rates were measured with an optical microscope. The influence of the composition of the blends, the tacticity of PMMA, and temperature on the growth rates were studied. Linear growth rates were observed regardless of the tacticity. The growth rates of spherulites are markedly reduced by a‐PMMA and s‐PMMA. However the growth rates of PEO are hardly influenced by i‐PMMA. Such observations are interpreted by assuming that PEO forms miscible blends with a‐ and s‐PMMA in the molten states, whereas it does not from with i‐PMMA. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.