The interfacial tension and morphology of reactive polymer blends

Citation
Zh. Li et al., The interfacial tension and morphology of reactive polymer blends, MATER LETT, 48(2), 2001, pp. 81-88
Citations number
24
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science","Material Science & Engineering
Journal title
MATERIALS LETTERS
ISSN journal
0167-577X → ACNP
Volume
48
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
81 - 88
Database
ISI
SICI code
0167-577X(200103)48:2<81:TITAMO>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Interfacial tension and morphology of polyamide6 (PA6) and polypropylene (P P) blends containing polvpropylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PPMAH) as reactive compatibilizer were studied by Neumann Triangle method, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. It was observed t hat there was a significant reduction of interfacial tension due to the in situ formed copolymer at the interface acting as an emulsifier, and there w as a limiting value of the interfacial tension under a saturation concentra tion of compatibilizer (C-saturation) at which the interface was saturated by the in situ formed copolymer. For the morphology, there was also a criti cal concentration of the compatibilizer (C-critical). For decreasing the si ze of the dispersed phase, there was no further decrease in the dispersed p article size above C-critical. The areal density of the in situ formed copo lymer (Sigma (critical)) was estimated, and it was concluded that to emulsi fy the PA6/PP blend, 100% coverage of the interface by the in situ formed c opolymer was not required; up to 63.7% coverage of the interface is suffici ent. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.