Polyethylene‐polycarbonate blends: Interface modification, phase morphology and measurement of orientation development during cast film and tubular extrusion by infrared dichroism

Abstract

Abstract The phase morphology and polymer chain orientation in polyethylene‐polycarbonte blends is investigated. A blend with a dispersed polyethylene phase was found to exhibit phase growth under quiescent conditions. Addition of a styrene‐(ethylene/butene) block copolymer controls the phase morphology and prevents phase growth. Melt spun tapes and tubular film have been prepared from polyethylene‐polycarbonate blends. Orientation of the crystallo‐graphic axes of the polyethylene and the chain axis of the polycarbonate were determined by infrared dichroism. The addition of polycarbonate to polyethylene is found to decrease chain orientation at the same drawdown stress.