Polymer, Vol.38, No.2, 287-295, 1997
Investigation of Semicrystalline Morphology in Poly(Ether Ether Ketone)/Poly(Ether Imide) Blends by Dielectric-Relaxation Spectroscopy
The semicrystalline morphology of a series of poly(ether ether ketone) [PEEK]/poly(ether imide) [PEI] blends has been investigated as a function of blend composition and crystallization condition by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. Dielectric scans of the crystallized blends revealed two glass-rubber relaxations for all specimens corresponding to the coexistence of a mixed amorphous interlamellar phase, and a pure PEI phase residing in interfibrillar/interspherulitic regions; no (pure PEEK) crystal-amorphous interphase was observed. Variations in the composition of the mixed interlamellar phase with crystallization temperature were consistent with kinetic control of the evolving morphology : lower crystallization temperatures led to an increase in the amount of PEI trapped between crystal lamellae. Comparison of the relaxation characteristics of the interfibrillar/interspherulitic phase with those of pure PEI indicated a much broader spectrum of local relaxation environments for PEI in the blends, consistent with PEI segregation across a wide range of size scales.
Keywords:TEREPHTHALATE) POLYARYLATE BLENDS;DYNAMIC-MECHANICAL RELAXATION;CRYSTAL AMORPHOUS INTERPHASE;X-RAY-SCATTERING;POLYMER BLENDS;POLY(BUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE);POLY(VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE);POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE);LATTICE MODEL;KETONE)