Melt rheology and morphology of LLDPE/EVA blends: Effect of blend ratio, compatibilization, and dynamic crosslinking
K. A. Moly
B K. College, Amalagiry P.O., Kottayam, Kerala, India
Search for more papers by this authorS. S. Bhagawan
Propellent Engineering Division, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Thiruvananthapuram 695022
Search for more papers by this authorG. Groeninckx
Katholieke Univ Leuven, Department of Chemistry, Lab Macromol Struct Chem, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
S. Thomas
School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadharshini Hills, P.O. Kottayam 686560 Kerala, India
School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadharshini Hills, P.O. Kottayam 686560 Kerala, India===Search for more papers by this authorK. A. Moly
B K. College, Amalagiry P.O., Kottayam, Kerala, India
Search for more papers by this authorS. S. Bhagawan
Propellent Engineering Division, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Thiruvananthapuram 695022
Search for more papers by this authorG. Groeninckx
Katholieke Univ Leuven, Department of Chemistry, Lab Macromol Struct Chem, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
S. Thomas
School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadharshini Hills, P.O. Kottayam 686560 Kerala, India
School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadharshini Hills, P.O. Kottayam 686560 Kerala, India===Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The melt rheological properties of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blends were investigated with special reference to the effect of blend ratio, temperature, shear rate, compatibilization, and dynamic vulcanization. The melt viscosity of the blends determined with a capillary rheometer is found to decrease with an increase of shear rate, which is an indication of pseudoplastic behavior. The viscosity of the blend was found to be a nonadditive function of the viscosities of the component polymers. A negative deviation was observed because of the interlayer slip between the polar EVA and the nonpolar LLDPE phases. The melt viscosity of these blends decreases with the increased concentration of EVA. The morphology of the extrudate of the blends at different shear rates and blend ratios was studied and the size and distribution of the domains were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The morphology was found to depend on shear rate and blend ratio. Compatibilization of the blends with phenolic- and maleic-modified LLDPE increased the melt viscosity at lower wt % of compatibilizer and then leveled off. Dynamic vulcanization is found to increase the melt viscosity at a lower concentration of DCP. The effect of temperature on melt viscosity of the blends was also studied. Finally, attempts were made to correlate the experimental data on melt viscosity and cocontinuity region with different theoretical models. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3210–3225, 2002
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