Open AccessThe morphology of blends of linear and branched polyethylenes in solid state by SANS
Author(s) -
G. D. Wignall,
J. D. Londono,
Rufina G. Alamo,
L. Mandelkern
Publication year - 1995
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/34328
Subject(s) - high density polyethylene , small angle x ray scattering , materials science , low density polyethylene , crystallization , homogeneous , linear low density polyethylene , polyethylene , neutron scattering , small angle neutron scattering , chemical engineering , polymer blend , mixing (physics) , thermodynamics , composite material , scattering , polymer chemistry , polymer , copolymer , optics , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics
In a previous paper, the authors have shown how small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering (SANS, SAXS) can be used to determine the melt compatibility of different polyolefins, including high-density (HD), low-density (LD), and linear low density (LLD) polyethylene. Such blends have attained widespread commercial applications, though the understanding of the mechanical and melt-flow properties of such blends has hitherto been handicapped by the absence of a consensus concerning the degree of mixing of the components, both in the melt and solid states. Recent SANS data indicate that for HDPE/LDPE blends, the melt is homogeneous for all compositions after proper accounting for H/D isotope effects. In this publication the authors use complementary SANS, DSC, and SAXS to examine the types of morphologies and the different degrees of phase separation which may arise via crystallization effects on cooling from a homogeneous melt