Miscibility study of polycarbonate and SBS triblock copolymer blends

Polymer blends of Polycarbonate (PC) and Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene triblock (SBS) have been investigated. SBS copolymers have four different styrenic contents, three of which are linear SBS. PC and PS blends are partially miscible as revealed by dynamic mechanical analysis with two clear Tgs near 100–150°C. On the contrary, PC/SBS blends have only one Tg with a left shoulder. Based on the PS domain model of pure SBS, we suggest a micelle model based on the structure when the micelle and absorb PC in the PC/SBS blends. The micelle plays an important role in improving the miscibility. The proposed micelle model has been empolyed to interpret the testing results, such as toughness, impact strength, dynamic mechanical property and SEM morphologies. This proposed micelle model seems a worth-while method to explain the properties of partialtly miscible blends of PC and SBS.     

溴化聚苯乙烯的制备及其与聚碳酸酯的共混

在阴离子型聚苯乙烯浓溶液中,采用液溴为溴化试剂,合成了溴化聚苯乙烯(BPS),45 min内快速滴入液溴可制备溴质量分数超过60%的BPS。通过溶液共混法制备了聚碳酸酯(PC)与BPS的共混薄膜,用扫描探针显微镜观察了共混薄膜的表面形貌,研究了共混薄膜的疏水性,用热重法分析了共混物的热性能。结果表明:PC与BPS是不相容的,降低BPS相对分子质量或提高BPS在共混物中的比例,可提高其与PC共混的分散性和表面积,提高共混薄膜的亲水性,增加共混物的热稳定性,但前者作用显著。PC/BPS共混物在700℃的残炭率大于11%。     

Studies on polycarbonate/polystyrene/polycarbonate-g-polystyrene blends. III. Optical properties of PC/PS/PC-g-PS blends

Polycarbonate (PC)/polystyrene (PS) blend is a typical immiscible system. It is, however, still transparent. In this paper, this irregular phenomenon is clarified experimentally and theoretically. A new method of obtaining birefringence-free polymers without sacrificing orientation in materials is proposed. This involves combining suitable amounts of PC and PS in the form of a blend. The observed drastic reduction in birefringence is the result of the compensation of positive and negative contributions to the overall birefringence. ©1997 SCI     

Miscibility, crystallization and morphologies of syndiotactic polystyrene blends with isotactic polystyrene and with atactic polystyrene

Two-component blends of differing polystyrene (PS), one syndiotactic (sPS) and the other isotactic (iPS) or atactic (aPS), were discussed. The phase behavior, crystallization and microstructure of binary polystyrene blends of sPS/iPS and sPS/aPS with a specific composition of 5/5 weight ratio were investigated using optical microscopy (OM), differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Based on the kinetics of enthalpy recovery, complete miscibility was found for the sPS/aPS blends where a single recovery peak was obtained, whereas phase separation was concluded for the sPS/iPS blends due to the presence of an additional recovery shoulder indicating the heterogeneity in the molten state. These findings were consistent with OM and SEM observations; sPS/iPS exhibits the dual interconnectivity of phase-separated phases resulting from spinodal decomposition.Both iPS and aPS have the same influence on the sPS crystal structure, i.e., dominant β-form sPS and mixed α-/β-form sPS obtained for melt-crystallization at high and low temperatures respectively, but imperfect α-form sPS developed when cold-crystallized at 175 °C. Co-crystallization of iPS and sPS into the common lattice was not observed regardless the thermal treatments, either cold or melt crystallization. Due to its slow process, crystallization of iPS was found to commence always after the completion of sPS crystallization in one-step crystallization kinetics. Segregation of rejected iPS component during sPS crystallization was extensively observed from TEM and SEM images which showed iPS pockets located between sPS lamellar stacks within spherulites, leading to the interfibrillar segregation, which was similar with that observed in the sPS/aPS blends. The addition of iPS (or aPS) component will reduce the overall crystallization rate of the sPS component and the retardation of crystal growth rates can be simply accounted by a dilution effect, keeping the surface nucleation intact. The phase-separated structure in the sPS/iPS blend shows a negligible effect on sPS crystallization and the signature of phase separation disappears after sPS crystallization. Depending on the relative dimensions of the segregated domains and iPS lamellar nucleus, subsequent crystallization of iPS can proceed to result in a crystalline/crystalline blend, or be inhibited to give a crystalline/amorphous blend morphology similar with that of sPS/aPS blends.     

Miscibility and crystallisation behaviour of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate blends

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate blends were produced in a twin-screw extruder with and without added transesterification catalyst, lanthanum acetyl acetonate. The miscibility of the blends was studied from their crystallisation behaviour and variation in glass transition temperature with composition using differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and change in mechanical properties. The blends prepared without the catalyst showed completely immiscible over all compositions, while those prepared in the presence of the catalyst showed some limited miscible. The presence of PC inhibited the crystallisation of PET but this was much greater in the blends prepared in the presence of catalyst suggesting that some reaction had taken place between the two polyesters. The tensile properties showed little differences between the two types of blends.     

Studies on the blends of polycarbonate and highly branched polystyrene

A highly branched polystyrene (HBPS) was synthesized via the copolymerization of 4‐(chloromethyl) styrene with styrene using the self‐condensing atom transfer radical polymerization method. The addition of this highly branched polystyrene as a melt modifier for polycarbonate (PC) was attempted. Indeed, the results show that the addition of highly branched polystyrene can decrease the melt viscosity of PC with little change in mechanical properties, although the blends do exhibit lower thermal stability compared with pure PC. Extrapolation shows that all of the blends have an initial weight loss temperature above 450°C with a statistic heat‐resistant index T_s above 225°C. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 2425–2430, 2004     

Studies on polycarbonate/polystyrene/polycarbonate- graft-polystyrene blends. II. Compatibility and morphology of PC/PS/PC-g-PS blends

A radiation grafted copolymer of polycarbonate (PC) and polystyrene (PS) was used as a compatibilizer of PC/PS melt blends. The compatibility and morphology of PC/PS/PC-g-PS blends were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. As a consequence of the addition of PC-g-PS, the compatibility of PC/PS blends was improved; the dimensions of the dispersed phases and the interfacial tension between the two phases were reduced. Additionally, stabilization against gross segregation and interfacial adhesion of the blends were also improved by adding PC-g-PS as a compatibilizer. © 1998 SCI.     

Co-continuous polycarbonate/ABS blends

Co-continuous PC/ABS (50/50) blends were studied with a variable polybutadiene (PB) content (0-40%) in ABS. Polycarbonate (PC), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) and PB were blended in two steps using a twin screw extruder. Rectangular bars were injection moulded and notched Izod impact tested at different temperatures and in single edge notch tensile tests at 1 m/s and different temperatures. Co-continuous PC/ABS gave a brittle-to-ductile transition temperature lower than expected based on notched Izod results for dispersed ABS in PC. The brittle-to-ductile transition temperature, in the co-continuous PC/ABS blends, decreased with increasing rubber content in SAN. The fracture energies showed an optimum at 15% PB in SAN while at the same time a delamination was seen on the ductile fracture surface, due to failure of the PC/SAN interface. Delamination disappeared when the rubber content in SAN or the temperature was increased. Specimens containing a welding were injection moulded to study the influence of rubber and AN content in the SAN on the interface. Weldline strength of the blends was very poor compared to PC, but improved with increasing rubber content in SAN.     

Miscibility of some phenoxy/polymethacrylate blends

Summary It has been reported that phenoxy is miscible with poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate) and poly(tetrahydropyranyl-2-methyl methacrylate). However, we have found that phenoxy is immiscible with poly(ethyl methacrylate), poly(n-propyl methacrylate), poly(n-butyl methacrylate), poly(methylthiomethyl methacrylate), poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) and poly(methoxycarbonylmethyl methacrylate). The miscibility behavior of various phenoxy/polymethacrylate blends cannot be satisfactorily explained by a non-hydrogen-bonded solubility parameter approach.     

Properties of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blends

To help make a good polymer blend by melt blending, the properties of polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) systems with various compositions have been investigated. As ABS is blended into PC to form a binary system, Brabender torque is reduced, a phenomenon that results in Improved processability of PC. With increasing ABS content, the mechanical properties of the blends such as tensile strength, modulus, hardness, and shrinkage decrease. However, with the variation of composition, Izod impact strength shows a maximum, while elongation at break exhibits a minimum. These phenomena are discussed with dynamic viscoelasticities and scanning electron microscopic morphological results. The value of ΔT_g(T_gβPC ? T_gβABS) is at its smallest when the ratio of PC to ABS is 90:10, However, the value rises with an increase in ABS because the butadiene content of the ABS hinders compatibility in the binary system. At the 90:10 composition, the damping height is optimal. In addition, the dispersed phase of the ABS is most ideal, absorbing the impact force and showing high impact strength. Composition ratios other than 90:10 present high damping as well as undesirable phase separation because of poor adhesion between two phases. As a result, the mechanical properties are reduced.     

Characterization of thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester/polycarbonate blends: Miscibility,rheology, and free volume behavior

Miscibility, rheology, and free volume properties of blends of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (TLCPs) (Vectra A950) and polycarbonate (PC) are studied in this work. Despite the unusual increase in T_g of the PC phase, the blends are found to be generally immiscible. Transesterification may occur during blending and be the cause of the increase of T_g of the PC phase and the partial miscibility of the blends at high TLCP concentrations. With regard to the melt rheology of these materials, according to a three‐zone model, dynamic moduli of Vectra A950 show plateau‐ and transition‐zone behavior, while PC exhibits terminal‐zone behavior. The blends show only terminal‐zone behavior at low Vectra A950 contents (≤50%) and terminal‐ and plateau‐zone behavior at higher Vectra A950 contents. The relaxation time of Vectra A950 is much longer than PC and the blends have relaxation times greater than additivity. Both the complex and steady shear viscosities of the blends increase with the addition of Vectra A950. This is attributed to interfacial association, which retards the reorientation and alignment of the Vectra A950 phase in the molten state. The Cox–Merz rule holds true for PC but not for Vectra A950 and the blends. Free volume properties on an angstrom scale evaluated by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) indicate that Vectra A950 has smaller, fewer free volume cavities than PC and the variation of free volume behavior in the blends can be explained in terms of blend miscibility. The measured densities of the blends agree well with the free volume fractions of the blends determined from PALS. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2319–2330, 2000     

HIPS/EVA/CB体系的相容性

研究了炭黑(CB)对高抗冲聚苯乙烯(HIPS)/乙烯-乙酸乙烯酯共聚物(EVA)共混体系相容性的影响,并预测了共混体系的相形态转变点。填充CB后,当EVA用量大于50 phr时,碳氧双键伸缩振动峰的位置由1 737.9cm~(-1)偏移到1 706.5 cm~(-1)附近,且在1 240.0 cm~(-1)附近的碳氧单键峰减弱,近乎消失。采用半经验公式对共混体系进行理论预测,HIPS/EVA/CB共混体系理论上发生相形态转变时,HIPS的临界质量分数为50%～60%,经傅里叶变换红外光谱和扫描电子显微镜照片分析,共混体系发生相形态转变时,HIPS的质量分数约为42%。     

Morphology development of PC/PE blends during compounding in a twin-screw extruder

The morphological development of a polycarbonate/polyethylene (PC/PE) blend in a twin-screw extruder was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effects of extrusion temperature, viscosity ratio (the ratio of the viscosity of the dispersed phase to that of the matrix), and the screw configuration on the morphology of the PC/PE blend during the extrusion were discussed in detail. It was found that the morphology of the dispersed particles and the interfacial adhesion between the dispersed phase and matrix were both influenced by the extrusion temperature. The dispersed phase had a spheroidal shape and a small size during the high temperature processing, and an irregular shape and a large size when it was processed at low temperature. The PC phase with a lower viscosity was easier to disperse and also to coalesce. Therefore, the deformation of the low-viscosity dispersed phase during the processing was more intense than that of the high-viscosity dispersed phase. By comparing the effects of the different screw configurations on the morphology development of the PC/PE blend, it was found that the melting and breaking up of the dispersed phase were mainly affected in the initial blending stages by the number of the kneading blocks. While a kneading block with a 90 degree staggering angle was used, the size of the dispersed particles decreased and the long fibers were shortened, the large particles were drawn by the additional kneading zone. Finally, all of these structures were completely changed to the short fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:14–25, 2007. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of morphology on shear viscosity for binary blends of polycarbonate and polystyrene

The structure and rheological properties of binary blends of polycarbonate (PC) and polystyrene (PS) were investigated using various PS samples with different molecular weights, namely PS1k (M_w = 1,000), PS53k (M_w = 53,000), and PS240k (M_w = 240,000). The blends with PS53k and PS240k show phase-separated structures, whereas the blend with PS1k is miscible. The shear viscosity decreases greatly on addition of PS53k and PS240k, especially at high shear rates, which would be a great advantage at processing operations. Because the nonlinear response occurs in the small strain region for multilayered films of PC and PS240k, the origin of the significant viscosity drop for the phase-separated system is interfacial slippage at the phase boundary.     

Compatibility enhancement of ABS/polycarbonate blends

The effects of blend composition, melt viscosity of poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS), and compatibilizing effect of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on mechanical properties of ABS/polycarbonate (PC) blends at ABS-rich compositions were studied. As the content of PC was increased, impact strength and Vicat softening temperature (VST) were increased. As the melt viscosity of ABS was increased near to that of PC, finer distribution of dispersed PC phase and consequent enhanced impact strength and VST were observed. The compatibilizing effect of PMMA can be ascer-tained from the enhanced properties of ¼-inch notch impact strength, VST, tensilestrength, and the morphology observed by a scanning electron microscope. The improved adhesion of the ABS/PC interface by PMMA changed the fracture mechanism and reduced the notch sensitivity of blends. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 533–542, 1998     

Injection molding of polypropylene/polycarbonate blends

This work deals with the effects of material and processing parameters on the mechanical behavior and morphology of noncompatlbilized polypropylene-polycarbonate (PP-PC) blends. The blends containing between 0 and 40 vol. percent of polycarbonate were compounded using a twin screw extruder and converted by injection molding using molds with rectangular as well as dogbone shaped cavities. The blends exhibit a complex skin-core morphology which evolves with the composition. Despite the absence of interfacial adhesion, the low strain modulus increases with PC concentration and follows approximately the Takayanagi model for systems with perfect adhesion. A slight increase of stiffness and strength with increasing PP/PC viscosity ratio is also observed. Weldline strength of these blends is generally poor and decreases with the increasing PC concentration.     

Mechanical properties of ABS/polycarbonate blends

The mechanical properties of extruder compounded blends of ABS and polycarbonate in the form of extruded-sheet and injection-molded bars are reported and compared with commercial products based on these components. The modulus and tensile yield strength exhibit a nearly additive response to blend composition while percent elongation at break shows a minimum vs. composition. Notched Izod impact strength is nearly constant at the level of pure ABS up to 50% polycarbonate and increases rapidly upon further addition of polycarbonate.     

Miscibility in PVC-polyester blends

Blends of poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, with the polyesters poly(butylene adipate), poly(hexamethylene sebacate), poly(2,2-dimethyl,1,3-propylene succinate) and poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol succinate) were found to exhibit a single, composition dependent glass transition. Thus, these polyesters are miscible with PVC as others have reported for poly(?-caprolactone). However, mixtures of poly(ethylene succinate), poly(ethylene adipate) and poly(ethylene orthophthalate) with PVC were found not to be miscible. Melting point depression has been used to estimate the blend interaction parameter. These results combined with others from the literature suggest that there is an optimum density of ester groups in the polymer chain for achieving maximum interaction with PVC. Too few or too many ester groups result in immiscibility with PVC.