Properties of Styrene-Diphenylethylene Polymers

The disadvantage, however, of stiffer polymer chains is reduced mobility. This has as a consequence a higher resistance to deformation processes in the bulk and therefore processing should be carried out at a temperature higher 

In Table 25.1 a comparison between S/DPE(30) (i.e. 30wt% DPE) and syn-diotactic polystyrene (sPS), both products containing 30 % glass fibres, is shown. It can be seen that the mechanical properties of the S/DPE product are slightly superior to those of sPS. Resistance to polar solvents, however, is probably better in sPS than in S/DPE polymers owing to its partially crystalline nature. 

A more effective toughening of brittle thermoplastics is often achieved using rubber modification. This is discussed in more detail in Section 5. 

S/DPE polymers are compatible with one another when their DPE contents differ by less than 15 wt%. S/DPE polymers containing less than 15 wt% of DPE are also compatible with GPPS and with the amorphous phase of sPS. This has been demonstrated using DSC and transmission electron microscopy [6]. 

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