Morphology and deformation of compatibilized polystyrene low density polyethylene blends

This investigation deals with the morphology and tensile behavior of polyst yrene/low density polyethylene blends compatibilized by hydrogenated styren e-b-butadiene-b-styrene triblock copolymer. The stress-strain measurements indicate that blends with excellent toughness were achieved, due to the com patibilizing role of the triblock copolymer in the system. The morphology o f the blends was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the re sults show that the state of polystyrene changes from continuous phase to d ispersed phase with increasing LDPE content. The correlation between mechan ical properties and morphology is discussed. The morphologies of the tensil e bars were also examined by SEM, and the deformation mechanisms of the ble nd were further analysed according to fractography. (C) 1999 Society of Che mical Industry.