Compatibilization of Polymer Blends
R.L. Markham
Abstract
Blending two or more polymers to obtain a unique product suitable for an application has been practiced for decades. Although blending thermoplastics has been an area of high interest for the past 15 years, rubber blending has been carried out since the last half of the 19th century. From the perspective of developing commercial polymer blends, compatibilization is the process of converting an otherwise useless polymer blend into a commercially useful product. In designing and developing polymer blends, one of the first concerns must be the desired morphology of the blend in the ultimate product. Of course, a uniform and reproducible morphology is required for commercial success. The morphology of a compatibilized blend is influenced by the quenching or cooling rate during formation of the ultimate product. Co-continuous phases, a unique morphological structure, has high potential for providing unique combinations of properties, but this morphology is rarely observed.