EFFECT OF COMPONENT INTERACTION ON THE MELTING AND CRYSTALLIZATION CHARACTERISTICS OF PE PIB BLENDS/

Linear low density polyethylene/polyisobutylene blends were prepared i n the entire composition range. Non-isothermal and isothermal crystall ization of the samples was carried out and melting behavior vas studie d as a function of composition and crystallization temperature. Tile e quilibrium melting temperature of the near PE and the blends was deter mined by the Hoffman-Weeks extrapolation technique. Flory-Huggins inte raction parameters were calculated by the approach of Nishi and Wang. The decrease of melting temperature with increasing PIE content indica ted the interaction of the polymers in rile melt. Both irregular chain structure of the crystalline polymer and interaction lead to a decrea se of the equilibrium melting temperature and maximum lamellar thickne ss. The results prove that even relatively weak dispersive forces can lead to the miscibility of two polymers.