Manipulating the morphology of poly (ethylene terephthlate) blends by capillary rheometry

Abstract

The present work describes the formation of co-continuous phase morphologies in uncompatibilized and compatibilized poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/poly(m-xylene adipamide) (MXD6) melt-extruded blends. Phase continuity has been determined by using Jordhamo relationship. Viscosity values which are essential for calculation of the phase continuity have been obtained by using capillary rheometry. Phase continuity has been investigated for the non-compatibilized and the compatibilized blends with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). PET/MXD6 blends (92.35/7.65 v/v and 84.5/15.5 v/v) exhibit a droplet-in-matrix phase morphology, while uncompatibilized PET/MXD6 (75.8/24.2 v/v) blend has a combination of rod-like, droplet/matrix structure, and quasi-interpenetrating network structure.