Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.80, No.6, 1017-1027, 2002
Morphology in immiscible polymer blends during solidification of an amorphous dispersed phase under shearing
Solidification under shear of dispersed polycarbonate (PC) fibers in copolymer polyethylene-methyl acrylate matrix (EMA) was investigated using a hot optical shear device. First, the deformation of PC droplets and its modeling under isothermal conditions were studied for comprehension purposes. Overall agreement with literature models was found and the main influence of the viscosity ration has been stressed. Second, the morphology control through dynamic quenching was experimented. It consists of solidifying the amorphous PC dispersed phase under shear flow. Break-up times of PC fibers were taken into account. Shear rate and quenching-time balance was demonstrated. Thus, during dynamic solidification, a fibrillar morphology could be obtained throught rapid quenching. Long quenching times allow nodular morphology, whose size depends on the shear rate used. PC rods can be obtained by adjusting the shear rate during dynamic quenching.