MORPHOLOGY OF POLY(P-PHENYLENE SULFIDE) POLYETHYLENE BLENDS

Blends of poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS) and polyethylene (PE) of var ious component ratios were prepared via melt mixing in a laboratory-sc ale internal mixer. Cryogenically fractured surfaces of these blends w ere examined by means of scanning electron microscopy. General morphol ogical features including the domain size and the phase inversion proc ess were discussed in terms of droplet dispersion during melt mixing a nd phase coarsening after cessation of flow. Interestingly, the surfac e of dispersed PE particles showed distinct features of protruding fib rils whereas the surface of dispersed PPS particles was characterized by an orange-peel appearance. These were explained in terms of the seq uential crystallization of the two phases and the loose packing of PPS crystallites in the intermediate stage of solidification.