Morphology evolution during cooling of quiescent immiscible polymer blends: matrix crystallization effect on the dispersed phase coalescence

• Published in: Polymer bulletin (Berlin, Germany) Vol. 70; no. 1; pp. 263 - 275
• Main Authors: Dimzoski, Bojan, Fortelný, Ivan, Šlouf, Miroslav, Sikora, Antonín, Michálková, Danuše
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Annealing; Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Cooling; Crystallites; Crystallization; Exact sciences and technology; Miscibility; Morphology; Organic Chemistry; Organic polymers; Original Paper; Particle size; Physical Chemistry; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymer blends; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Properties and characterization; Propylene; Soft and Granular Matter; Solid phases; Czech Republic; Polymer blends; Cooling rate; Polypropylene; Crystallization effect; Morphology evolution; Coalescence; Ethylene–propylene rubber; Strengthening; Melt crystallization; Morphology; Propylene polymer; Ethylene propylene rubber; Olefin polymer; Experimental study; Crystal morphology; Heterogeneous mixture
• ISSN: 0170-0839; 1436-2449
• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-012-0848-1

The influence of the matrix crystallization on the coalescence of the dispersed phase particles, in quiescent immiscible polymer blends, is a topic that is scientifically addressed scarcely. The coarsening of the phase structure that is induced by the matrix crystallizing domains was studied using the well-established system comprising a polypropylene and an ethylene–propylene rubber (PP/EPR blends). This subject is of great importance as the effectiveness in the toughening of PP is directly determined by the EPR particle size. Cooling experiments were commenced for resolving the correlation among the imposed cooling conditions, the formed matrix crystalline morphology, and the coalescence of the dispersed phase particles. A confirmation of the profound effect of the PP crystallization on the coalescence of EPR particles was undoubtedly obtained. The contribution of the crystallization to the coalescence of the dispersed phase particles is largest at a finite rate of cooling. A thorough discussion regarding the observed effects, encompassing a potential rejection or an engulfing of the dispersed phase particles by the growing crystallites, was undertaken.