Phase separation in semicrystalline blends of poly(phenylene sulfide) and poly(ethylene terephthalate). II. Effect of poly(phenylene sulfide) homopolymer solubilization of PPS-graft-PET copolymer on morphology and crystallization behavior

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part B, Polymer physics Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 599 - 610
• Main Authors: Hanley, Stephen J., Nesheiwat, Afif M., Chen, Rong T., Jamieson, Madge, Pearson, Raymond A., Sperling, L. H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 15.02.2000; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Crystallization; crystallization behavior; Exact sciences and technology; graft copolymers; morphology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; poly(ethylene terephthalate); poly(phenylene sulfide); Properties and characterization; Ethylene terephthalate polymer; Polymer blends; Graft copolymer; Property composition relationship; Dispersion degree; Experimental study; Compatibilizer; Heterogeneous mixture; Phenylene sulfide polymer; Transformation temperature; Heat of transformation; Melt crystallization; Morphology
• ISSN: 0887-6266; 1099-0488
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0488(20000215)38:4<599::AID-POLB12>3.0.CO;2-B

The morphology and crystallization behavior of poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) blends compatibilized with graft copolymers were investigated. PPS‐blend‐PET compositions were prepared in which the viscosity of the PPS phase was varied to assess the morphological implications. The dispersed‐phase particle size was influenced by the combined effects of the ratio of dispersed‐phase viscosity to continuous‐phase viscosity and reduced interfacial tension due to the addition of PPS‐graft‐PET copolymers to the blends. In the absence of graft copolymer, the finest dispersion of PET in a continuous phase of PPS was achieved when the viscosity ratio between blend components was nearly equal. As expected, PET particle sizes increased as the viscosity ratio diverged from unity. When graft copolymers were added to the blends, fine dispersions of PET were achieved despite large differences in the viscosities of PPS and PET homopolymers. The interfacial activity of the PPS‐graft‐PET copolymer appeared to be related to the molecular weight ratio of the PPS homopolymer to the PPS segment of the graft copolymer (MH/MA). With increasing solubilization of the PPS graft copolymer segment by the PPS homopolymer, the particle size of the PET dispersed phase decreased. In crystallization studies, the presence of the PPS phase increased the crystallization temperature of PET. The magnitude of the increase in the PET crystallization temperature coincided with the viscosity ratio and extent of the PPS homopolymer solubilization in the graft copolymer. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 599–610, 2000