Adhesion and morphology of PVDF/PMMA and compatibilized PVDF/PS interfaces

Abstract

The morphology of the interface between miscible and immiscible polymer pairs was investigated. For the PVDF/PMMA system, which has a highly exothermic enthalpy of mixing, complex structures suggest the occurrence of bulk convective motion at the contact area between the two polymer melts. The immiscible pair PVDF/PS, displays a smooth interface under similar conditions. A simple method for testing compatibilizers is described. Using this method, styrene-methylmethacrylate random copolymers and PMMA were investigated as compatibilizers for the PVDF/PS blend. PVDF/PMMA/PS (1:1:1) ternary blends show some heterogeneity with small domains but their maximum tensile strength is of the same magnitude as that of PVDF/PMMA blends. © 1991.