J. Lyngaae-jorgensen et al., Flow induced deformation of dual-phase continuity in polymer blends and alloys. Part I, POLYM ENG S, 39(6), 1999, pp. 1060-1071
A hypothesis for formation of bi-continuous phase structures in immiscible
polymer blends is proposed. It is based on the observation that a critical
volume fraction phi(cr) for the dual continuity of phases may be calculated
considering the geometry of the dispersed phase. The knowledge of the form
of discrete domains at the volume fractions phi < phi(cr) and the probabil
ity that two close neighbor domains will form a strongly fused connection a
re sufficient to calculate phi(cr). Furthermore, it can be predicted that p
hi(cr) should increase with stabilization of the interface. A comparative s
tudy showed that an addition of block: copolymer may narrow the volume frac
tion range where bi-continuous phase structures are formed. Both annealing
in the molten state and shearing history influence the measured phi(cr) for
the formation of bi-continuous phase structure in amorphous immiscible pol
ymer blends.