ao7b02072_si_001.pdf (9.67 MB)
Morphology Mapping of Nanoparticle-Filled Immiscible Polymer Blends in Flow: The Existence of a Critical Ratio between Nanoparticle Concentration and Droplet Concentration
journal contribution
posted on 2018-09-21, 08:13 authored by Miqiu Kong, Guangling Chen, Shuting Xi, Yajiang Huang, Guangxian LiThe
delicate flow-induced morphology of immiscible polypropylene/polystyrene
blends in the presence of silica nanoparticles (NPs) is investigated
in a multiparameter space. The morphology map constructed based on
in situ morphology observation reveals that a critical ratio of NP
concentration to droplet concentration, which strongly depends on
the NP surface chemistries and the ratio of the NP concentration to
the droplet concentration, exists. Below or above the critical ratio,
the NPs display diverse effects on the morphology (promote or suppress
droplet coalescence). These results can be interpreted by the competition
between the bridging mechanism (acceleratory effect) and the enhanced
viscoelasticity (inhibitory effect) exerted by the NPs.