Evaluation and characterization of vector fluids and peroxides in a process of in situ compatibilization of polyethylene and polystyrene

An organic functional silane was found to be the most efficient among several vector fluids in reactive blend compatibilization of the polyethylene (PE) / polystyrene (PS) / peroxide / vector fluid system. This paper involves further analysis of this reactive blending system. Surface tension data was used to calculate spreading coefficients which were compared to the amount of PE-PS copolymer formed during blending. A good correlation between a computed spreading coefficient and the degree of grafting of PS onto PE was found. The results suggest that the pattern of distribution of the vector fluid in PE / PS blends is the key factor leading to effective results. Furthermore, different peroxides were evaluated in PE / PS blends, in order to determine the dependence of PE / PS interfacial grafting reaction on the structure of the peroxide.