0000000000059869
AUTHOR
Ronak Bahrami
Micromechanics of “raspberry” morphology in PPE/SAN polymer blends compatibilized with linear ABC triblock terpolymers
Abstract The effect of compatibilization with a symmetrical polystyrene- block -polybutadiene- block -poly(methyl methacrylate) (SBM) triblock terpolymer on the morphological and mechanical properties (specifically toughness) of immiscible poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)/poly(styrene- co -acrylonitrile) (PPE/SAN) blends with different blend (w/w) ratios is investigated. We study the effect of blend viscosity on the localization of the compatibilizer at the blend interface, influencing the mechanical properties of the macroscopic material. The impact of the specific morphology of the blends, known as “raspberry morphology”, on the final material will be explained using thermomechanica…
Synergistic effects of Janus particles and triblock terpolymers on toughness of immiscible polymer blends
Abstract By influencing both the interfacial adhesion and the morphology, compatibilizers determine the mechanical properties of polymer blends. Here, we study the mechanical properties, in particular the fatigue crack propagation (FCP) of immiscible blends of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)/poly(styrene- co -acrylonitrile) (PPE/SAN), compatibilized with Janus nanoparticles (JPs) and linear polystyrene- block -polybutadiene- block -poly(methyl methacrylate) (SBM) triblock terpolymers. Synergistic effects of a mixture of both compatibilizers improve the FCP behavior and reveal the important role of interface stiffness and flexibility on the mechanical properties of polymer blends. The…
The Impact of Janus Nanoparticles on the Compatibilization of Immiscible Polymer Blends under Technologically Relevant Conditions
Several hundred grams of Janus nanoparticles (d ≈ 40 nm) were synthesized from triblock terpolymers as compatibilizers for blending of technologically relevant polymers, PPE and SAN, on industry-scale extruders. The Janus nanoparticles (JPs) demonstrate superior compatibilization capabilities compared to the corresponding triblock terpolymer, attributed to the combined intrinsic properties, amphiphilicity and the Pickering effect. Straightforward mixing and extrusion protocols yield multiscale blend morphologies with "raspberry-like" structures of JPs-covered PPE phases in a SAN matrix. The JPs densely pack at the blend interface providing the necessary steric repulsion to suppress droplet …