Polysulphone and poly(phenylene sulphide) blends: 2. Mechanical behaviour

This paper reports the mechanical behaviour of injection moulded blends of polysulphone (PSF) and poly(phenylene sulphide) (PPS). The blends prepared by melt-extrusion and subsequent injection moulding are phase separated. Depending on moulding conditions, thermal history, and composition, tensile behaviour ranged from brittle to ductile, with or without cold drawing. Cold drawing was observed in compositions as-moulded with up to 50% by weight PPS. Upon annealing for 2h at 160°C, ductile failure was maintained for blends containing up to 35% by weight PPS. All other compositions failed in brittle fashion. Flexural strength and modulus, before and after annealing, exhibited negative deviation from the rule of mixtures. All the blends were found to be notch sensitive.