Dynamic mechanical properties of two copolymers of styrene and n‐hexyl methacrylate

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Abstract
The storage (J′) and loss (J″) shear compliances have been measured for two random copolymers of styrene and n‐hexyl methacrylate with styrene contents of 18% and 30% (by weight) in the frequency range 45–4400 Hz and the temperature range 31–107°C. The data at different temperatures were combined by the method of reduced variables, and the WLF coefficients were calculated from the temperature shift factors by the method of Pierson and Kovacs. The data were compared with earlier data for the two homopolymers. The thermal expansion coefficient of the fractional free volume, and the free volume at the glass transition temperature, varied monotonically with composition, but the fractional free volume at a reference temperature of 100°C appeared to pass through a maximum as a function of concentration. Comparison of isothermal plots of J′ at 100°C, plots of the relaxation spectrum at 100°C, the monomer friction coefficient and its temperature dependence, and isochronal plots of the storage shear moduls at 100 radians/see all show that the properties of poly(n‐hexyl methacrylate) are very slightly affected by incorporation of 18% styrene and only moderately affected by 30% styrene. By contrast, comparison of styrene–butadiene rubber with 1,4‐polybutadiene shows a very large effect of incorporation of 23.5% styrene. These differences may be associated with local packing relations of the comonomer residues and suggest that copolymer properties cannot be readily predicted from those of the component homopolymers.