Coalescence in quiescent polymer blends with a high content of the dispersed phase

0377756 - ÚMCH 2013 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Fortelný, Ivan - Jůza, Josef - Dimzoski, Bojan
Coalescence in quiescent polymer blends with a high content of the dispersed phase.
European Polymer Journal. Roč. 48, č. 7 (2012), s. 1230-1240. ISSN 0014-3057. E-ISSN 1873-1945
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR IAA200500903
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z40500505
Keywords : polymer blends * coalescence * molecular forces
Subject RIV: BJ - Thermodynamics
Impact factor: 2.562, year: 2012

Coalescence in molten quiescent polymer blends induced by van der Waals forces is studied theoretically. Interaction between a droplet and its nearest neighbor keeping spherical shape during drainage of the matrix trapped between them is considered. It is assumed that droplets having a time dependent radius R are randomly distributed in the blend through the whole course of the coalescence. Various approaches to calculation of the average time of coalescence, tc are compared. Calculated dependence of R on the time of coalescence, t, is compared with experimental results for polypropylene/ethylene–propylene rubber (PP/EPR) blends. Experimental results show decreasing slope of R3 vs. t dependence, especially for a higher content of dispersed EPR. Theories using average h0 or direct averaging of tc predict somewhat smaller rate of coalescence than that experimentally determined for PP/EPR blends. Reasons of these differences are discussed
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0007020