Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)and bisphenol-A-polycarbonate (PC) polymer blends are prepared by solution casting technique using tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The structural properties of the polymer blends before and after they had been irradiated to electron beam accelerator was investigated by color strength, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and FTIR spectroscopy. The thermal properties such as TGA and DSC were investigated. The TGA thermograms showed that the thermal stability of the unirradiated polymer blends PMMA/PC increases with increasing the ratios of PC component in the blend. Also, it was found that the pres-ence of PC polymer in the blend affords protection against radiation degradation and improves their thermal stability. The DSC scans show a single T g intermediate between PMMA and PC indicate the existence of specific interactions between PMMA and PC polymers in the blend. An intimate blends are reflected by substantial shifts in the frequencies of the PMMA and PC C¼ ¼O vibration obtained by FTIR. SEM confirms the homogeneity of the blend.

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Thermoplastic elastomers from blends of styrene‐vinylacetate copolymer latex (S‐VAc) and natural rubber latex (NRL) as a hydrophilic/hydrophobic blend have been prepared by the solution‐casting technique. Compatibility between S‐VAc and NRL was confirmed at all ratios of the blend mixing through the measurements of water absorption, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscope. The prepared blend was studied for pressure‐sensitive adhesive (PSA) application. Nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) was used as a chemical tackifier to initiate a sticky property for S‐VAc. Also, electron beam irradiation was applied as a physical tackifying agent to promote stickiness for NRL at 12.5 Mrad or at 2.5 Mrad by addition of NPE tackifier. Peel strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, surface hardness, and aging time were investigated. Two types of double‐sided PSA were prepared: the first to be applied at room temperature; the second to be applied thermally at 80°C. The obtained PSA adhesive was suggested to be used for adhering the synthetic veneers to the particle wood panels. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009