Influence of temperature-induced coalescence effects on co-continuous morphology in poly(ε-caprolactone)/polystyrene blends

摘要: Abstract This paper demonstrates that temperature-induced coalescence effects during melt mixing have a major influence on the concentration range of dual-phase continuity and an order magnitude effect co-continuous microstructure phase size. A detailed study temperature blending morphology immiscible poly(e-caprolactone)/polystyrene blends is presented. Polycaprolactone (PCL) polystyrene (PS) are blended in batch mixer at 50 and 5 min for various temperatures. The phases obtained by selective extraction each analyzed using image analysis SEM micrographs mercury intrusion porosimetry. It observed has only small up to PS or PCL composition about 20 30%. However, beyond dramatic. 50/50 blend size ( d v ) 8.5 μm 230 °C 1.1 μm 155 °C. Furthermore, co-continuity broadened from 50–65%PS 30–70%PS results lower concentrations indicate little overall deformation/disintegration process, which appears be due compensating effects. For example, PCL, shear stress increases significantly temperatures, but counterbalanced increase viscosity ratio, elasticity interfacial tension. Beyond volume fraction 0.30, plays dominant role final morphology. shown this controlled merging stage coalescence. data significant potential as tool control polymer blends.