Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.82, No.5, 1138-1146, 2001
Study on morphology of ternary polymer blends. II. Effect of composition
The composition effect on morphology of polypropylene/ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer/polyethylene (PP/EPDM/PE) and polypropylene/ethylenepropylene-diene terpolymer/polystyrene (PP/EPDM/PS) ternary blends has been investigated. In all of the blends, polypropylene as the major phase was blended with two minor phases, that is, EPDM and PE or PS. From morphological studies using the SEM technique a core-shell morphology for PP/EPDM/PE and separated dispersed morphology for PP/EPDM/PS were observed. These results were found to be in agreement with the theoretical predictions. The composition of components affected only the size of dispersed phases and had no appreciable effect on the type of morphology. The size of each dispersed phase, whether it forms core or shell or disperses separately in matrix, can be related directly to its composition in the blend.
Keywords:ternary polymer blends;composition effect;morphology;relative interfacial energy;melt viscosity ratio