Morphological Evolution of Multi-phase Hybrid Polymeric Blend Systems

Abstract

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University

Multi-phase hybrid polymeric systems comprising of polymers and fillers have shown that fillers with different surface characteristics affect the morphology of the blend system. The compatibility between the filler and matrix exerted strong influence on the droplet-fibril transition of the dispersed phase. Deformation of the LCP dispersed phase was facilitated when hydrophobic silica was blended with PP and LCP. The affinity of the hydrophobic silica to the apolar PP and consequently the residence of the fillers in the matrix was believed to minimise disruption to the LCP phase leading to the development of high aspect ratio fibrils and imparting mechanical anisotropy to the hybrid blend system. The increase in the matrix viscosity ratio coupled with the stronger shear field created by the presence of the fillers brought about a larger Capillary number promoting deformability of the dispersed phase in the blend. The complexity of the deformation mechanism in such multi-phase hybrid polymeric blend systems involving several interdependent factors is unveiled in this work.

Keywords:

• Morphology
• Deformation
• Hybrid Blend Systems
• Liquid Crystalline Polymers
• Polymer Blends