Control of Morphology and interfacial tension of PC/SAN blends with compatibilizer

Abstract

Block copolymers of PC-b-PMMA (polycarbonate-b-polymethylmethacrylate) and PC -b-SAN (polycarbonate-b-(styrene-c-acrylonitrile)), were examined as compatibilizers for blonds of PC with SAN copolymer. The average diameter of the dispersed particles was measured with an image analyser, and the interfacial properties of the blonds were analysed with an imbedded fiber retraction (IFR) technique. The average diameter of dispersed particles and interfacial tension of the PC/SAN blends reached a minimum value when the SAN copolymer contained about 24 wt% AN. Interfacial tension and particle size were further reduced by adding compatibilizer to the PC/SAN blends. PC-b-PMMA was more effective than PC-b-SAN as a compatibilizer in reducing the average diameter of the dispersed particles and interfacial tension of PC/SAN blend. A direct proportionality between the particle diameter and interfacial tension was also observed. The interfacial properties of the PC/SAN blends were optimized by adding a block copolymer and using an SAN copolymer that had minimum interaction energy with PC.