Dispersed Phase Particle Size in Polymer Blends: Interfacial and Rheological Effects

Abstract

Simple blends with different viscosity ratios of the components as well as compatibilized blends varying in content of compatibilizer were used in order to study the relation between interfacial tension and viscosity ratio of the components with dispersed phase particle size for PP/EPDM (80/20 wt.%) and PP/PA6 (80/20 wt.%) blends. Poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) ionomers (EMA-I) was used as a compatibilizer for both systems. For blends prepared in an internal mixer, a power law relation was found between capillary number and torque ratio of the blend components. This relation was used to estimate the interfacial tension for the compatibilized blends.