MECHANICAL AND WEAR PROPERTIES OF POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE AND POLYVINYLIDENE FLUORIDE BLENDS

There are several studies regarding the miscibility of polymethylmetha crylate (PMMA) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) blends in the molten state along with the rheological properties; however, there is a lack of information regarding the glassy state. The mechanical and wear pr operties of this system were investigated using both steady and dynami c tests. The results do not follow a simple additive rule of mixtures, but they can be readily explained by the phase morphology of the syst em. The system is semi-compatible with both an amorphous domain and a crystalline domain. The results for increasing PMMA concentration are: glass transition temperature, T-g (-34-130 degrees C); storage modulu s, E' (1.1-2.6 GPa); flexural strength, sigma(0)(75-96 MPa); compressi ve strength, sigma(c)(60-120 MPa); and relative wear rate, R-A (0.05-1 .8 mu m/rev). The amorphous blend had a saturation limit of about 40 w t% PVDF. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.