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The effect of the viscosity ratio of dispersed phase to matrix on the rheological, morphological, and mechanical properties of polymer blends containing a LCP
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1996
Year
EngineeringMechanical EngineeringThermoplastic CompositeSoft MatterDispersed PhasePolymer ProcessingRheologyPolymer ChemistryMaterials SciencePolymer BlendViscosity RatioPolymer MeltPolymer BlendsMechanical PropertiesPolymer ScienceRheological PropertyPolymer PropertyDispersed Lcp PhaseTensile Modulus
The effect of the viscosity ratio of the dispersed LCP phase to the polystyrene/poly(phenylene oxide) (PS/PPO) thermoplastic matrix on the rheological, morphological, and resultant mechanical properties of the LCP blends was investigated. The viscosity of PS/PPO is largely dependent on the blend composition, so that different levels of viscosity ratios of dispersed LCP phase to PS/PPO thermoplastic matrix are obtained by using PS/PPO premixtures of different blend ratios as a thermoplastic matrix. When the viscosity of the LCP dispersed phase is lower than that of the thermoplastic matrix, finely distributed fibril structure of LCP is obtained. Tensile modulus of injection molded specimens show a positive deviation from the additive rule when the viscosity ratio (ηLCP/ηmatrix) is smaller than unity. These improvements in tensile modulus are attributed to the formation of finely distributed LCP fibrils. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.