Development of partial miscibility in polycarbonate/polypropylene blends via annealing

Abstract

Abstract The morphology, dynamic mechanical properties and infrared spectra of polycarbonate (PC)/polypropylene (PP) blends were investigated. As expected, PC and PP were immiscible when blended together; however partial miscibility developed following annealing. The miscibility of one polymer in the other was examined using the modified Fox equation and the values of the Flory-Huggins polymer-polymer interaction parameter (χ12) were also calculated following the Kim and Burns approach. Moreover, the possible causes for partial miscibility in the annealed PC/PP blends were explored by infrared spectroscopy. It was concluded that annealing caused degradation of PP, leading to the formation of polar groups which were then able to interact with PC generating regions of partial miscibility.