Effect of a triblock PCL-PDMS-PCL copolymer on the properties of immiscible poly(vinylchloride)/poly(2-ethylhexylacrylate) blends

Miscibility, thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), (PVC/PEHA) blends containing 1-10 wt.-% of the triblock copolymer polycaprolactone-block-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-block-(PCL-PDMS-PCL, Tegomer) were investigated by several techniques. Binary blends of PVC/PEHA are found to be immiscible according to differential scanning calorimetry and viscosity measurements. The effect of Tegomer addition on the properties of blends was examined. Ternary blends of PVC/PEHA/Tegomer exhibited a single T-g behaviour and viscosity measurements indicate some compatibility. Stress-strain results showed that Tegomer has a synergetic effect on the flexibility of the blends. FTIR analysis confirms the specific interactions between the components in ternary blends of PVC/PEHA/Tegomer. Morphological properties of the blends were examined by scanning electron microscopy.