Evidence for an interphase relaxation in a ternary polymer blend through areverse mechanical modeling

The viscoelastic properties of a compatibilized epoxy/thermoplastic polymer blend were investigated. Mechanical spectrometry revealed an additional lo ss peak at about 333 K at 1 Hz in the compatibilized ternary blend spectrum that is detailed as a "micromechanical transition." Such an interphase rel axation does not correspond to a relaxation of one of the pure components. Mechanical modeling was used in a reverse mode to investigate the actual ch aracteristics of the interphase (i.e., volume content and mechanical proper ties). In a "direct" mode, mechanical modeling permits prediction of the viscoelas tic properties of a blend from knowledge of the characteristics of the pure components. In the reverse mode, this new approach for mechanical modeling appears to be a well-suited tool. for separating the viscoelastic characte ristics of one phase from others in multiphase systems.