Rheological and morphological properties of high-density polyethylene and poly(ethylene-octene) blends

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 86; no. 9; pp. 2240 - 2246
• Main Authors: Guimarães, Maria José O. C., Coutinho, Fernanda M. B., Rocha, Marisa C. G., Farah, Marcelo, Bretas, Rosário E. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 28.11.2002; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; electron microscopy; Exact sciences and technology; morphology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; polyethylene; polyolefins; Properties and characterization; rheology; Rheology and viscoelasticity; Polymer blends; Molten state; Olefin copolymer; Dispersion degree; Morphology; High density ethylene polymer; Ethylene copolymer; Property structure relationship; Experimental study; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.11201

The rheological and morphological properties of blends based on high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and a commercial ethylene–octene copolymer (EOC) produced by metallocene technology were investigated. The rheological properties were evaluated in steady and dynamic shear experiments at 190°C in shear rates ranging from 90 s−1 to 1500 s−1 and frequency range between 10−1 rad/s and 102 rad/s, respectively. These blends presented a high level of homogeneity in the molten state and rheological behavior was generally intermediate to those of the pure components. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the blends exhibit dispersed morphologies with EOC domains distributed homogeneously and with particle size inferior to 2 μm. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2240–2246, 2002