J Pak Mater Soc 2009 3 (1)

XRD STUDY OF BINARY POLYMER BLEND OF PMMA/PVAC

Mohammad Saleem Khan, Uzma Khalil and Gulfam Nasar

NCE in Physical Chemistry, Peshawar University, Pakistan.
* Corresponding author

Abstract
Blending polymers is an economic method to develop new polymeric materials. Commonly,
the final properties of the blend depend on the properties of its polymeric components, its
composition, and mainly on the miscibility of the polymers. Poly(methylmethacrylate) and
Poly(Vinyl Acetate) are very useful polymers in everyday life. A binary blend of PMMA/PVAc
was prepared by solution casting techniques using chloroform as a solvent. The blend
system was characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). X-ray diffraction patterns of binary
blends of different composition were studied and discussed in
this study. the most important features of the polymer
industry over the last few years.
Key words: PMMA, PVAc, blend, XRD. More recently, considerable research effort
in polymer blends and alloys in both
1. Introduction academia and industry has led to a
In the search for new polymeric materials, mushrooming growth of the patent and
either new monomers are polymerized or co- scientific literature. A number of book
polymerization techniques are used to „tailor reviews and conferences proceedings
make‟ a new product. An alternative method covering all aspects of the preparation,
has been to blend existing polymers. Mixing phase behaviour and applications of different
together of two or more different polymers or types of blends have been established.
co-polymers is known as blending. Blending The miscibility between the constituents of
is a process somewhat similar to the polymer mixture is an important factor in
compounding. In a polymer blend, the the development of new materials based on
constituent polymers are usually present in polymeric blends. Miscibility is defined as the
significant weight or volume proportions with ability to be mixed at molecular level to
[2]
respect to each other, but seldom in equal produce one homogenous mixture . The
proportions [1]. An obvious advantage of this majority of known polymeric mixtures are
approach is that it requires little or no extra immiscible; however, several miscible
capital expenditure relative to new polymers. blends have been found in the last three
It is also possible to produce a range of decades. Polymer-polymer miscibility has
materials with properties completely different been extensively studied by several
[3]
from those of the blend constituents [2]. The techniques like FTIR spectroscopy , XRD
[4] [5] [6]
rapid increase in the use of blends is one of
, scanning electron microscopy , NMR

Mohammad Saleem Khan, Uzma Khalil and Gulfam Nasar: XRD Study of Binary…. 22