Characterization of reactive blending kinetics

The kinetics of reaction between two systems of functionalized polymers are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (Ft-IR). These experiments model the interdiffusion and reaction which occur at the polymer-polymer interface during reactive polymer blending. Experiments trace the reaction of a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer with two different amine terminated polymers: a butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer or nylon 11. The maleic anhydride/amine reaction forms a cyclic imide. In each case, a bilayer film of the two reacting polymers is prepared and the reaction forming the cyclic imide is followed by Ft-IR in a heatable transmission cell. In the case of the butadiene-acrylonitrile system, the kinetics in a well mixed sample obtained by precipitation of the polymers from a mutual solvent are also obtained.