Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 21 (7): 1071-1074, 2014 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2014.21.07.85146 Corresponding Author: Okoye N. H., Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. 1071 Studies on the Thermomechanical Behaviours of PS: Pmma Blend R.U. Arinze, A.N. Eboatu, N.H. Okoye, I.J. Dioha, 1 1 1 2 P.U. Ofora, P.I. Udeozo and A. Ogbonna 1 3 1 Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria 1 Energy Commission. Gariki, Abuja, Nigeria 2 Department of Chemical Sciences, Tansian University Umunya, Anambra State, Nigeria 3 Abstract: Polymer blending has become a technique for providing materials with extended useful properties beyond the range that can be obtained from single polymer equivalent. The tensile strength, elongation and thermal degradation profiles of PS: PMMA blends were investigated using Tensiometric and TGA methods. The highest tensile strength and elongation were prominent at 0.164 and 0.371 PMMA base mole fractions. The optimal temperature of blend degradation stabilizes are at 0.164, 0.228 and 0.019 PMMA base mole ratios. Thus, it is advisable to blend at these compositions. Key words: Elongation Optimal Interaction Polymer Blend TGA and Tensile Strength INTRODUCTION composition. The tools usually used include FTIR, The blending of two or more polymers has become an work the thermal and mechanical properties of the increasingly important technique for improving the cost blends were analyzed using tensiometric and TGA performance ratio of commercial plastics. For example, techniques. blending may be used to reduce the cost of an expensive engineering thermoplastic, to improve processibility of a MATERIALS AND METHODS high temperature or heat sensitive thermoplastic or to improve impact resistance [1, 2]. A shorter period of Experimental: The materials were used as received: time and effort is required to develop a new product via tetrahydrofuran from Pharmacos Ltd, Southend-on sea, blending existing materials in comparison with that Essex, England; cyclohexane from Riedel-Dahacnag needed to develop a new polymer. Polymer blends are Seelze-Hannover, Germany; PS and PMMA from British becoming more important in specific sectors of polymer Drug House Poole, England. industry, as they can frequently meet performance requirements that cannot be satisfied by the currently Blend Preparation: PS (50g/ 950cm³) and PMMA available commodity polymers [3, 4]. Consequently their (20g/ 800cm³) were respectively dissolved in attractiveness increases with increasing demand for this tetrahydrofuran and cyclohexane. Varying volumes of PS class of materials. The scientific and commercial progress solution were mixed each with 25cm³ of the stock solution in this area during the past two decades has been of PMMA. Each polymer solution pair was stirred tremendous and was driven by the realization that new vigorously for uniform mixing and then was immediately molecules are not always required to meet needs for new transferred to a mould. Also, 25.0cm³ of each materials and that blending can usually be implemented homopolymer was poured into their respective moulds. more rapidly and economically than development of The method allowed the films of the blends to be formed new chemistry. This represents a very important field in on the surface of the moulds, after the evaporation of the processing new material which has better properties [5-7]. solvents. The films were kept at room temperature for The physical and mechanical properties of these seven days to ensure absolute evaporation and further blends are sensitive to small variations in the amounts of vacuum dried. Then the base mole ratios of the mixtures the individual variety of analytical tools to monitor blend were calculated. TGA, DSC and Tensiometers [4]. In the present