Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.98, No.3, 1308-1316, 2005
Reactive polytetrafluoroethylene/polyamide compounds. I. Characterization of the compound morphology with respect to the functionality of the polytetrafluoroethylene component by microscopic and differential scanning calorimetry studies
Compounds of electron-beam-irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyamide (PA) were produced by reactive extrusion. During extrusion, both a breakdown process of the PTFE agglomerates and a chemical reaction between PTFE and PA took place. The morphology of the compounds was characterized with differential scanning calorimetry using fractionated crystallization, with atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and with dynamic light scattering. The particle size of the dispersed PTFE phase decreased as the irradiation dose increased. A simple theoretical model of the breakdown process of PTFE agglomerates was made for the discussion of the development of the observed degree of dispersion. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.