Monodisperse tert-butyl acrylate
(tBA) oligomers of several lengths, functionalized at
one
end by a tertiary amine, were ionically grafted to lightly sulfonated
polystyrene. Despite the oligomers
being immiscible with the polystyrene matrix, dynamic mechanical
analysis of the blends indicates only
a weak phase separation effect, and the polymer is plasticized
moderately. However, the blends (studied
up to 30 wt %) are translucent, suggesting phase separation on a
larger scale. A possible explanation is
given in terms of nonspherical tBA domains subject to a
hard-wall effect coupled with interfacial ionic
interactions as well as ester−acid interactions. Evidence for
the latter was noted in the infrared spectra.