THE EFFECTS OF INTERMOLECULAR FORCES ON THE RHEOLOGY OF POLYMERS I: EFFECTS BELOW THE GLASS TEMPERATURE

Two series of styrene copolymers were prepared, containing, respectively, acidic and basic comonomers. The mechanical properties of these copolymers were determined for several temperatures below T sub g. Stoichiometric mixtures of these acidic and basic copolymers were studied over the same temperature range, and their mechanical properties compared to those of the parent materials. It was found that the stoichiometric mixtures showed increased modulus, tensile strength and relaxation times. The increases can be related to functional group content and temperature through simple equations. (Author)