IN-SITU COMPATIBILISATION OF POLY(PHENYLENE SULFIDE) WHOLLY AROMATIC THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMER BLENDS BY REACTIVE EXTRUSION -MORPHOLOGY, THERMAL AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES

Compatibilisation of immiscible poly(phenylene sulphide) (PPS)/wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) blends is repo rted. In situ compatibilised PPS/TLCP blends were prepared in a twin-s crew extruder by reactive blending of PPS and TLCP in presence of dica rboxyl-terminated poly(phenylene sulphide) (DCTPPS), The block copolym er formed during reactive blending, by transesterification reaction be tween carboxyl groups of DCTPPS and ester linkages of TLCP, is tested for its role as the compatibiliser by studying the morphology, mechani cal and thermal properties of the compatibilised PPS/TLCP blends over a wide range of composition. The heat of melting (Delta H-m), crystall isation temperature (T-c) and heat of crystallisation (Delta H-c) of P PS phase are observed to decrease marginally as a result of improvemen t in the interfacial adhesion between the two phases on compatibilisat ion. The tensile properties and impact strength of PPS/TLCP blends are seen to improved on compatibilisation. This observation is further su pported by morphological features of the blend. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd, All rights reserved.