AbstractThe properties of butadiene–styrene copolymers and of polybutadiene–polystyrene blends were compared. Polybutadiene, polystyrene, and four copolymers having styrene contents of 20, 40, 60, and 80 were prepared. The copolymers were compared with blends having various styrene contents and prepared by means of latex blending and roll blending. Vulcanizates were prepared by three different curing methods, i.e., sulfur cure, peroxide cure, and radiation cure. The results of the benzene extraction of three vulcanizates showed that the polystyrene blended was not cured by any of the curing methods used. The properties of the vulcanizates of the copolymers were markedly different from those of the blends, i.e., in the case of the blends the properties showed a linear relationship with their blending ratio, while in the copolymers the properties showed a curvilinear relationship which had an inflection point at a styrene content of about 60. From this phenomenon of the copolymers, it was proposed that the second‐order transition point of styrene is the cause of the properties showing this peculiar point. From the results, it was found that the behavior of styrene in copolymers is essentially different from that in b
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