Crystallization and melting of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) in ternary mixtures with toluene and polystyrene

The crystallization and melting temperatures of an unfractionated poly(2,6‐dimethyl 1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) sample, PM2, were determined at 0.25°C/min cooling and heating rates in five binary toluene—PM2 and fifteen ternary toluene—polystyrene—PM2 solutions. The total polymer weight fraction range studied was 0.12–0.40 and the PM2 weight fraction range was 0.026–0.40. The heat of fusion Hf of the PM2 was computed to be 10.1 cal/g from the melting point depressions. A toluene—PM2 pair interaction parameter χ13 = 0.890 – 223.5/T was found. Although a reliable polystyrene–PM2 interaction parameter could not be computed, the data are consistent with χ23 = 0. Setting χ23 = 0 we calculate the toluene—polystyrene interaction parameter to be χ12 = 0.495 – 15.46/T. This χ12 is in remarkable agreement with values reported in osmotic pressure studies.