CHARGE-DISTRIBUTIONS IN PC SAN/PCL POLYMER BLENDS/

The formation of space charge in polycarbonate (PC)/poly (styrene-co-a crylonitrile) (SAN) blends containing poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL ) as a compatibilizer for improving the miscibility, has been studied by measuring spatial charge distributions. It is found that the miscib ility of PC/SAN blends is improved as the PCL content increases. The a mount of charge accumulated in the blends decreases when the PCL conte nt increases to 15% by weight and then increases when the PCL content is > 15% wt. The decrease of charge at the PCL content < 15% wt was at tributed to the combined effects of changes in conductivities and the molecular interactions at the domain interfaces. The increase of charg e at the PCL content > 15% wt was attributed to the trapping of charge at the amorphous and crystalline phases of PC and PCL.