Competition between breakup and coalescence of droplets in polymer blends containing a compatibilizer

In description of the effect of a compatibilizer on the phase structure dev elopment in molten polymer blends, the following processes must be consider ed: (i) a decrease in the interfacial tension, (ii) the effect of a compati bilizer on the course of droplet breakup and coalescence, (iii) the effects of the droplet breakup and coalescence on the interfacial area. The depend ence of the average droplet size in steady flow on the blend composition ca n be calculated if distribution of a compatibilizer between the interface a nd bulk phase is assumed. The effect of compatibilizer migration along the interface and between the interface and bulk phase are estimated. The shape s of the dependence strongly varied depending on whether the total compatib ilizer amount or the ratio compatibilizer/dispersed phase is constant durin g an increase in volume fraction of the dispersed phase.