New chitin-based polymer hybrids.: 3 -: Miscibility of chitin-graft-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) with poly(vinylalcohol)

The miscibility of blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with chitin-graft-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (1) and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) homopolymer (PEtOZO) was investigated. Calorimetric results showed a single glass transition temperature (T-g) in the entire range of compositions for both blend systems, which indicated that PVA is miscible with both the graft copolymer 1 and PEtOZO. The T-g of PVA is also shifted to lower temperature upon blending with the graft copolymer 1. IR analysis revealed the existence of specific interactions via hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups in PVA and the carbonyl groups in the poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) side chain of graft copolymer 1. The results show that the interaction of graft copolymer 1 with PVA is increased by introduction of longer poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) side chains. Thermal decomposition (TG) measurements supported the compatibility of PVA with graft copolymer 1 and with PEtOZO, and showed that the thermal stability of PVA is improved upon blending with 1 or PEtOZO.