Thermomechanical analysis of binary polymer blends

Thermomechanical analysis by penetration and extension modes, was performed on polyolefin/polystyrene blends (high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene or isotactic polypropylene with atactic polystyrene) and polyolefin/polyolefin mixtures (high density polyethylene or low density polyethylene with isotactic polypropylene). All the measurements were performed on cylindrical specimens obtained directly by extrusion on which extensive mechanical and morphological studies were previously made. It was found that the addition of small quantities of a polymer to a different polymeric matrix tend to modify the thermomechanical behaviour of the whole system. Furthermore the results showed that such an analysis seems to be a suitable tool to get useful information on the thermal and morphological transitions as well as on the interactions between the components in the blends.