Blends of Poly(ethylene oxide) Samples of Different Molecular Weights: Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Differential scanning calorimetry and mechanical measurements have been performed on binary poly(ethylene oxide) blends of different molecular weight samples. Some thermodynamic and mechanical properties, such as the melting point and the ultimate stress and strain are strongly affected by blend composition. The enthalpy of fusion and the Young's modulus, however, vary only slightly over the entire range of composition. Also the time for dissolution in water, at two different temperatures, has been measured on blends made from the lowest and the highest molecular weight components. The results indicate that by blending two different molecular weight samples, even of the same polymer, it is possible to influence the physical properties of the relative blends, so obtaining improvements of technological importance.