Author(s)

Maria Elisa S. R. Silva, Valdir Mano, Raquel R. J. Pacheco, Roberto F. S. Freitas

Department de Natural Sciences, Federal University of S?o Jo?o del Rei, S?o Jo?o del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Blends of polyacrylamide—PAM, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)—PNIPAAm, poly(N-tert-butylacrylamide)—PTBAA, poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)—PDMAA and poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide)—PDEAA with poly(ethylene glycol)— PEG were prepared by casting in methanol and water at concentrations of 20 wt%, 40 wt%, 60 wt%, and 80 wt% in PEG. The miscibility of the components was studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry—DSC. All blend systems are characterized by a single glass transition temperature (T_g), close to the T_g of the amorphous component. The Hoffman Weeks method was used to determine equilibrium melting temperature (T_m) data. The determination of the melt point depression of the blends allowed the calculation of Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χ₁₂) of the two polymers in the melt, by using the Nishi Wang equation. The interaction parameters, calculated for all the blends, are slightly negative and close to zero, suggesting a partial miscibility between the components.

Polyacrylamides; Poly(Ethylene Glycol); Polymer Blends; Flory-Huggins Interaction Parameter; Differential Scanning Calorimetry

M. Silva, V. Mano, R. Pacheco and R. Freitas, "Miscibility Behavior of Polyacrylamides Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Blends: Flory Huggins Interaction Parameter Determined by Thermal Analysis," Journal of Modern Physics, Vol. 4 No. 7B, 2013, pp. 45-51. doi: 10.4236/jmp.2013.47A2007.