FACTORS INFLUENCING THE EFFICACY OF AN INTERFACIAL MODIFIER FOR THE INTERFACE IN AN IMMISCIBLE POLYMER BLEND

The modification of the interface in immiscible polymer blends is crit ical in order to optimize physical properties. Despite the great comme rcial importance of polymer blends, many aspects of the emulsification process remain unclear. In this paper, it will be shown that an emuls ification curve can be used to estimate the influence of the architect ure and molar mass of styrene/hydrogenated butadiene block copolymer i nterfacial modifiers on the emulsification of polystyrene/ethylene-pro pylene rubber blends under melt processing conditions. An expression f or estimating the critical amount of copolymer to saturate the interfa ce, as well as aspects concerning the localisation of the modifier in the blend system will also be addressed.