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Influence of diblock copolymer on the morphology and properties of polystyrene/poly(dimethylsiloxane) blends
Author(s) -
Chuai Chengzhi,
Li Shu,
Almdal Kristoffer,
Alstrup Jan,
LyngaaeJørgensen Jørgen
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.20258
Subject(s) - copolymer , materials science , polystyrene , miscibility , molar mass , differential scanning calorimetry , morphology (biology) , polymer chemistry , polymer blend , chemical engineering , rheology , scanning electron microscope , coalescence (physics) , composite material , polymer , physics , genetics , biology , astrobiology , engineering , thermodynamics
Blends of polystyrene (PS) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), with and without diblock copolymers (PS‐ b ‐PDMS), were prepared by melt mixing. The melt rheology behavior of the blends was studied with a capillary rheometer. The morphology of the blends was examined with scanning electron microscopy. The miscibility of the blends was studied with differential scanning calorimetry. The morphology of PS/PDMS blends was modified by the addition of PS‐ b ‐PDMS copolymers and investigated as a function of the molar mass of the diblock copolymers, viscosity ratios and the processing conditions. As investigated, the observed morphology of the melt‐blended PS/PDMS pair unambiguously supported the interfacial activity of the diblock copolymers. When a few percent of the diblock copolymers blended together with the PS and PDMS homopolymers, the phase size was reduced and the phase dispersion was firmly stabilized against coalescence. The compatibilizing efficiency of the copolymers was strongly dependent on its molar mass. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2747–2757, 2004