Understanding the Miscibility and Morphology of Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Styrenic Copolymer Blends of Tunable Domain Sizes

In the present study, we have investigated the miscibility, morphology and mechanical behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends with a series of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) copolymers containing varying amounts of maleic anhydride (MA) content (from 8 to 26%). The experimental findings have been substantiated by the modeling studies to gain fundamental understanding of the observed phenomena with respect to the miscibility of the PMMA and SMA blends of a given MA content. The morphological differences, molecular weights, domain sizes and mechanical behavior of the blends at a given ratio of PMMA and copolymers have been investigated and a correlation has been made between the morphological understanding to the molecular weights and mechanical properties. The results indicate that the PMMA/SMA blends are miscible only at a certain MA content providing transparent PMMA/SMA blends without affecting any of the enabling properties of PMMA that are of commercial interest through a facile melt mixing process. The surface hardness and % recovery (nano-indentation) of these blends were evaluated as well to gain fundamental understanding of the surface characteristics and mechanicals of the blends.