1

Polymer Blends
- Homogeneous blends
- miscible on molecular scale,
mobility is averaged, consequently glass transition
temperatures are averaged
- Heterogeneous blends
p. 295
- not miscible but phase separated,
mobility of original phases present, consequently glass
transition temperatures of original phases are present
Miscibility and modulus
M
Pure
components
T
g1
T
g2
T
g12
M
Miscible
blend
T
g1
T
g2
M
T
Immiscible
blend
2
Phase Behaviour of Blends
Change of Gibbs free energy AG
m
should be negative and second derivative
with respect to volume fraction must be larger than zero for complete
miscibility
AG
m
= AH
m
- TAS
m
miscibility.
- Complete miscibility seldom in high
molecular systems because of entropy
effects (AS
m
0) favourable interactions
are necessary (0 > AH
m
)
p. 297
- Heterogeneous blends common
Phase Behaviour of Blends
Example: Polystyrene Polycarbonate blends shows LCST behaviour
Decreasing molecular
Lower Critical
Solution Temperature
g
weight of PS
p. 299
3
Commercial Miscible Polymer Blends
p. 303
Glass Transition and Crystallisation in PVDF/PMMA
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) can crystallise
depending on composition and
temperature. PMMA serves like a diluent
and lowers the melting temperature.
p. 303
and lowers the melting temperature.
4
Properties of Blends
p. 304
Toughened Plastics and Phase Separated Blends
Example: high-impact Polystyrene (HIPS)
Promotion of
extensive shear
yielding or craze
formation
p. 306
5
Interpenetrating Networks
Example: IPN of poly(ethyl acrylate) and polystyrene
p. 307
Properties of Fibers
p. 290
6
Properties of Matrices
p. 309
Mechanical Properties
Modulus : in the fiber direction in uniaxial reinforced composite
E
L
= (1-|
f
) E
m
+ |
f
E
f
Strength :
o
L
= (1-|
f
) o
m
+ |
f
o
f
p. 310
f m f f
Reinforcement in perpendicular direction much lower and dependent on
interfacial adhesion between fiber and matrix.
7
Interfacial Adhesion and Coupling Agents
p. 312
Nanocomposites
p. 316
8
Nanocomposites properties
p. 315
Nanocomposite Structure
Exfoliated nanoclay in a polymer matrix
9
Polysulfone Nanocomposites
p. 317
Composite Processing: Filament Winding
Products: pipes,
tanks, flagpoles
p. 318
10
Composite Processing: Pultrusion
Continuous moulding process for profiles utilizing glass
or other fibrous reinforcement in a polyester or other
resin matrix
p. 319
Polymer Processing and Rheology
Basic steps for processing thermoplastics and elastomers:
heating of material
Rheology is science of flow of materials
p. 427
transport of hot melt
shape realization
fixation of shape
11
Extrusion Process
- Extrusion is a continuous process to produce:
tubes, profiles, cables, plates, foils, fibers, bottles
tratt
silpaket
skruv
vrmeelement termoelement gnga
matar-
ficka
p. 429
matarzon
kompressionszon skjuvzon
munstycke
mantel
Extrusion Process
12
Molding Processes
Molding: discontinuous process Mold ng d scont nuous process
- injection molding
- reaction injection molding
- compression molding
- transfer molding
- thermoforming termoformning, vacuumformning
formpressning
reaktiv formsprutning
formsprutning
sprutpressning
p. 429
- blow molding
- rotational molding
formblsning
rotationsgjutning
Injection Molding
m st k vrmeelement munstycke vrmeelement
p. 432
13
Injection Molding
Injection Molding
p. 433
inlopp frdelningskanal
formrumskanal
formrum
frgreningskanal
kallplugg
14
Reaction Injection Molding
RIM process with two separate tanks for polymerisation reagents
Polyamides
Epoxies
Polyurethanes
p. 434
Compression Molding Process
A. View of open mold with
molding material in place
B. Closed mold showing formed part
and flash formed from excess resin
p. 430
15
Transfer Molding
A. Transfer potis loaded while
mold is in closed position
B Plunger pushes molding material B. Plunger pushes molding material
into mold form
C. Mold opens and ejector pins push
out molded part
p. 431
Thermoforming
Also called vacuum
forming
p. 435
A. Flat sheet is heated
B. Softened sheet is forced
to fit the mold contour by
evacuating the space
between the sheet and the
mold
16
Blow Molding
Extrusion blow-molding process in the production of plastic bottles
p. 436
PET preforms for
injection blow molding
Calendering
Production of plastic sheet of PVC, PVC blends and copolymers of PVC
Simplified representation of
a calendering process,
usually several cylinders
involved
p. 437
17
Coating
A. Roll coating
B. Blade coating
p. 437
C. Curtain coating
Polymer Rheology
Newtons law of viscosity: Newton s law of viscosity:
Shear stress t is proportional to shear rate
The viscosity is q = t /
p. 440
The viscosity is q t /
18
Viscosity of Polymer Melts
Typical behaviour of a polymeric melt
Zero-shear viscosity
is directly related to the weight is directly related to the weight-
avarage molecular mass
p. 442
Rheometry
Measurement techniques:
Capillary rheometer
Couette rheometer
p. 461
Cone-and Plate rheometer
19
Capillary Rheometer
Range : shear rates from 1 10
5
s
-1
By measuring pressure drop over the
capillary and volumetric flow rate the
shear stress and shear strain rate can be
calculated and thus the viscosity.
p. 462
Couette Rheometer
The shear stress is determined
by measuring the torque, the
shear rate is determined by the
angular velocity and dimensions of
the system.
p. 465
20
Cone-and Plate Rheometer
Why using a cone ? Cone angle is very small, 1-3 degrees
Shear rate is independent on R !
Shear rate O / |
p. 467
Shear rate = O / |
Shear stress is proportional to torque
Viscosity measurements
Polymer melts at 200
o
C
HDPE
PP
PS
PMMA
LDPE
p. 468
Cone-and-plate