Morphology development of PC/PE blends during compounding in a twin-screw extruder

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 14 - 25
• Main Authors: Yin, Bo, Zhao, Yin, Yu, Run-Ze, An, Hai-Ning, Yang, Ming-Bo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.01.2007; Wiley Subscription Services; Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Extrusion; Machinery and processing; Materials science; Moulding compound preparation. Mixing; Plastics; Polycarbonates; Polyethylene; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Scanning electron microscopy; Scanning microscopy; Technology of polymers; Viscosity; Polyethylene; Mixing; Polymer blends; Dispersion degree; Double screw extruder; Temperature effect; Experimental study; Processing equipment; Heterogeneous mixture; Structure processing relationship; Morphology; Olefin polymer; Polycarbonate
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.20663

The morphological development of a polycarbonate/polyethylene (PC/PE) blend in a twin‐screw extruder was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effects of extrusion temperature, viscosity ratio (the ratio of the viscosity of the dispersed phase to that of the matrix), and the screw configuration on the morphology of the PC/PE blend during the extrusion were discussed in detail. It was found that the morphology of the dispersed particles and the interfacial adhesion between the dispersed phase and matrix were both influenced by the extrusion temperature. The dispersed phase had a spheroidal shape and a small size during the high temperature processing, and an irregular shape and a large size when it was processed at low temperature. The PC phase with a lower viscosity was easier to disperse and also to coalesce. Therefore, the deformation of the low‐viscosity dispersed phase during the processing was more intense than that of the high‐viscosity dispersed phase. By comparing the effects of the different screw configurations on the morphology development of the PC/PE blend, it was found that the melting and breaking up of the dispersed phase were mainly affected in the initial blending stages by the number of the kneading blocks. While a kneading block with a 90 degree staggering angle was used, the size of the dispersed particles decreased and the long fibers were shortened, the large particles were drawn by the additional kneading zone. Finally, all of these structures were completely changed to the short fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:14–25, 2007. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers