A composition-morphology map for particle-filled blends of immiscible thermoplastic polymers

Publication date: 16 June 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 119
Author(s): Derrick Amoabeng, David Roell, Kendal M. Clouse, Brian A. Young, Sachin S. Velankar
We explore the effects of adding silica particles to blends of two immiscible polymers, polyisobutylene (PIB) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) across a wide range of compositions, and particle loadings of up to 30 vol %. The silica particles have strong affinity for PEO, and hence, if there is sufficient PEO to fully engulf the particles, a combined phase of particles-in-PEO is formed. We construct a composition-morphology map which reveals two microstructures that are qualitatively different from those seen in particle-free polymer blends: one in which particles are bonded together by small menisci of PEO, and the other in which a highly-filled particles-in-PEO phase percolates throughout the sample. Particles widen the composition range over which co-continuous structures appear. Overall we find that particles affect the morphology greatly when the polymer preferred by the particles (PEO) is in a minority, but only modestly when the preferred polymer is in a majority.

Graphical abstract

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