Particle dimensions in polystyrene/polyethylene blends as a function of their melt viscosity and of the concentration of added graft copolymer

Apparent particle dimensions in blends of low density polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) made by mixing in the molten state have been measured and have been shown to depend on the viscosity of the mixed system. At a certain shearing rate small particles of the dispersed polymer are obtained if the polymer in excess has a high viscosity. At a higher concentration however this effect is counteracted completely if the dispersed phase has a low viscosity and thus lowers the overall viscosity. Coalescence is affected in the same way and the size of the particles increases greatly with increasing concentrations. If a highly viscous polymer is dispersed in a low viscosity polymer matrix relatively large particle sizes will be found at the preset shearing rate mentioned above. With increasing concentration of the highly viscous dispersed phase the particle size decreases due to the increasing viscosity. This effect is counteracted by coalescence leading to a relatively slow increase of particle size with concentration. Addition of surfactants such as graft copolymers based on PS and PE leads to smaller particle sizes as expected.