Polymer Engineering Faculty Research

Compatibilization of Syndiotactic Polystyrene and a Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymer Blend With a Zinc Salt of a Sulfonated Polystyrene Ionomer

Robert Weiss, The University of Akron

Abstract

A zinc salt of a lightly sulfonated (4.5 mol %) polystyrene ionomer was used to compatibilize a 3/1 (w/w) blend of syndiotactic polystyrene and a wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymer (TLCP). The addition of the ionomer significantly reduced the dispersed TLCP domain size and improved the tensile strength, ultimate elongation, and flexural toughness of the blend