STRUCTURAL MORPHOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INTERFACIAL PHASE OF HETEROCOAGULATED COMPOSITE-PARTICLES - DYNAMIC-MECHANICAL MEASUREMENTS

The dynamic mechanical properties of polymeric composites composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) continuons-phase and various inclusion types of heterocoagulated composite particles were investigated in order to relate them to the morphology of shell region of composite particles. Using the heterocoagulation process, large particles were encapsulate d with various types of small particles: (1) conventional linear-type polymer particles; (2) crosslinked polymer particles; and (3) reactive polymer particles capable of forming crosslinked structure, whereby t he interfacial properties of the composite become modified. These comp osite particles were subsequently annealed to form continuous shell re gions and then mi?red with matrix particles. It is shown that chain di ffusion movement of the small particles having different chain charact eristics influences the network formation at the interfacial shell reg ion. The ability of maintaining interfacial domain structure depends o n the degree of network formation. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Scie nce Limited.