Nanocomposites and nanomaterials
Effect of low molecular weight arenes additives on the interphase layer structure of SAN-PS systems and dielectric behavior of such compositions
Anoshenko M.1, Bazylyuk T.1, Iukhymenko N.1, Budzinska V.2
1Faculty of Chemistry, Macromolecular Chemistry Department, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, 01033, 60 Volodymyrska Street, Ukraine.
E-mail: yukhimenko.n@gmail.com
2 Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 48 Kharkivske shоuse, Kyiv 02155, Ukraine

The aim of this work was to study the low molecular weight arenes (LMWА) influence on the dielectric behavior of binary system with limited compatibility between components based on styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN) – polystyrene (PS). It could be expected that the LMWА will enhance the interphase layer (IPL) due to the π-π electron conjugation of the phenyl groups of components and, respectively, intermolecular interaction (IMI) in the IPL.
The industrial thermoplastic polymers SAN of azeotropic composition and suspension PS were used in the work.
The benzene, toluene, styrene, benzonitrile (BN) were used as low molecular weight components. LMWА were incorporated into a polymer matrix by sorption of the corresponding liquid under saturated vapor (desiccator method). The amount of low molecular weight substances incorporated into polymers were ~ 0.5% wt. % relative to the polymer matrix.
The following dielectric parameters, such as the tangent of the dielectric loss angle (tg δ) and dielectric permittivity (ε'), were estimated. Conclusions about the basic mechanisms of intermolecular interaction changing in the IPL were made based on the FTIR spectroscopy data. IR spectroscopic investigations were carried out in the range 400-4000 cm-1. 
It was established that benzene interacts selectively with SAN and PS, blocking the polymer-polymer interaction in the IPL.
The IPL structure rearrangement in the presence of toluene, as well as the growth of the stabilization of lyophilic fluctuating network which forms the IPL was detected. Styrene can be used as a compatibilizer of investigated polymer-polymer system.
Benzonitrile causes a weakening of the intermolecular interaction in the IPL due to the selectivity (similarly to benzene), as well as the dipole-dipole interaction of the nitrile groups of copolymers and benzonitrile. The complex IPLs structure is formed by competing (lyophilic and lyophobic) fluctuation networks. It was concluded that the rigid lyophobic network formation possibility, as well as the connected with this process mixtures heterogeneity mixtures is controlled, in general, by the SAN content in the compositions.