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Effect of mixing history on phase morphology of a polyalloy and a polyblend
Author(s) -
Plochocki A. P.,
Dagli S. S.,
Curry J. E.,
Starita J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760291002
Subject(s) - materials science , rheometry , coalescence (physics) , polymer blend , rheometer , composite material , phase (matter) , mixing (physics) , viscosity , viscoelasticity , polymer , rheology , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , astrobiology , copolymer
This paper details some of the immediate findings for phase morphology formation and persistence in an industrial melt mixing of a polyblend/alloy (‘PB’/‘PBA’). Estimation of the minor phase domain size in a polyblend is feasible if the viscoelasticity functions, interfacial tension of the component‐polymers, and the mixing process shear stress level are available. Clusters of domains are formed in the mixer (following streamlines). During steady flow in capillaries the clusters are forming rings which result from the flow velocity profile. Quantitative description of the clusters requires an expansion of image analysis software to account for the interdomain spacing in the clusters, as well as for their pattern. The on‐line rheometry was found useful for monitoring coalescence and the effectiveness of the compatibilizer: higher “stiffness” of the PAB melt compared with that of PB shows up in measurements of complex viscosity and modulus. Further study is required, however, for correlating domain spacing and the real time rheometry data (esp. the relaxation spectrum plateau [13]). Finally, the study of phase morphology for the “model” polyblend provides an insight into the melt deformation history in an industrial mixer. It is expected that the distribution of domain sizes would correlate with the pass frequency in the mixing blocks [41], stress distribution in the extruder, and coalescence of the dispersed (“minor”) phase.