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Compatibilizing agents in polymer blends: Interfacial tension, phase morphology, and mechanical properties
Author(s) -
Chen Cheng Chung,
White James L.
Publication year - 1993
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.760331409
Subject(s) - materials science , polystyrene , polyamide , surface tension , polymer blend , coalescence (physics) , phase (matter) , composite material , polymer , morphology (biology) , polyethylene , chemical engineering , copolymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , genetics , astrobiology , biology , engineering
Abstract The interfacial tension, phase morphology, and phase growth was determined for four polymer blend systems: polyethylene/polystyrene, polyethylene/polyamide‐6, polystyrene/polyamide‐6, and polystyrene/poly(ethylene terephthalate). Generally, high interfacial tension correlates with coarse phase morphology and rapid phase coalescence. The addition of various potential compatibilizing agents to these binary blend systems results in lowered interfacial tension, finer and stabilized phase morphologies. The characteristics of different compatibilizing agents were compared for several of the blend systems. We also look at the influences of compatibilizing agents on mechanical properties of the blend systems. Some compatibilizing agents are able to produce substantial improvements in ultimate properties.