Interfacial tension, morphology and linear viscoelasticity behavior of PP/PS blends

Abstract

: :: : Blends of polypropylene and polystyrene compatibilized with styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) or styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymers were studied. The morphology of these blends was studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Emulsion curves relating the average radius of the dispersed phase to the concentration of compatibilizer added to the blend were obtained. The rheological behavior of the blends was studied by small amplitude oscillatory shear, and correlated to the morphological observations. The interfacial tension between the components of the blends was evaluated from the rheological data. In addition, the applicability of time-temperature superposition (TTS) method for PP/PS blend was studied.

Prediction of Rheological Properties and Interfacial Tension of Mixtures of Immiscible Polypropylene-Polystyrene (PP3/PS) Blends

“…This value is stable when the temperature increases from 180 until 220 °C. The comparison of these results with an experimental value of interfacial tension (6.25 mN/m) obtained in the same conditions and deduced from the literature [37] indicates the existence of a slight difference. However, the Palierne model allows a prediction which is qualitatively in agreement with the experimental observations.…”

Rheological Behaviour of PP/PET and Modified PP/PET Blends. I. Steady State Flow Properties

“…Blends of polyolefins (PO) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) have recently attracted considerable research activity [1][2][3][4][5][6] since both materials are among the most frequently used thermoplastics, especially as packaging materials. Due to their broad-scale application, PO/PET mixtures represent a significant part of postconsumer waste.…”

“…To overcome problems due to immiscibility, a compatibiliser is employed. For that purpose, different compatibilising methods have been used, involving functionalization of the blend components before blending, 1,[11][12][13] the addition of a copolymer during blending [2][3][4][14][15][16][17] and particularly reactive melt blending [18][19][20][21] . Unlike the conventional two-step processes, in which the compatibiliser is synthesised first, and then added to a blend, reactive compatibilisation is a one-step process, in which the functionalities present on the polymers are utilised to form a copolymer in situ while compounding the blend 22 .…”