Miscibility study on polymer mixtures in dilute solution

Publication date: Available online 21 September 2018Source: Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering AspectsAuthor(s): Mirela Teodorescu, Maria Bercea, Simona MorariuABSTRACTThe present study has been focused on investigation of some polymer mixtures of interest for biomedical applications. Three pairs of polymers, namely: poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), PVA/hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), Pluronic F127 (PL)/HPC were subjected to viscometic study in dilute solution. The intrinsic viscosity, the Huggins constant and B parameter, as well as the miscibility parameters were discussed. The hydrodynamic properties of these polymer mixtures were analyzed as compared with the corresponding single polymer solutions at two reference temperatures, i.e. the storage (25 °C) and physiological (37 °C) temperature. Each mixture has shown distinct behavior: PVA/PVP system is fully miscible regardless composition or temperature; the miscibility of PVA/HPC or PL/HPC mixtures is influenced in a specific manner by the ratio between the two polymers and by the temperature. The main interest is a better understanding of the polymer-polymer interactions and to identify the synergistic behavior in order to design multicomponent biomaterials with targeted properties. The compatibility of these polymers was attributed to the favorable hydrogen-bonding interactions between the hydroxyl groups of PVA and carbonyl groups of PVP, hydroxyl groups of PVA and HPC, ...

Source: Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects - September 22, 2018 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research