In-situ formation of microfibrillar morphology in polymer blends

Abstract

The work focuses on microfibrillar-phase formation in polymer blends during extrusion through a die with semihyperbolic-converging channel. For these purposes three polyethylene/polypropylene blends with the mixing ratios (wt/wt.) 80/20, 70/30 and 60/40 were prepared Final structure and properties of extruded blends were examined using electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry and tensile testing. It is demonstrated that the formation of microfibrillar-phase morphology is achieved in all blends independent of their mixing ratios. However, the structure and properties of these microfibrillar-phase composites are strongly influenced by mixing parameters.