GOALI: "Compatibilized Polymer Blends"

Abstract

ABSTRACT CTS-9616192 Polymer blends are mostly prepared through melt-mixing. The compatibilization of the polymers occurs during melt-processing, especially via reactive extrusion. In this proposal, an alternative approach to the formation and compatibilization is proposed; namely, the auto-compatibilization via concentrated emulsions. In this method, two concentrated emulsions are prepared from different monomers and subjected to partial polymerization. A blend is formed by mixing the partially polymerized cells instead of melts and subjecting the mixture to complete polymerization. Some copolymers, block copolymers or network structures are generated during the latter polymerization near the surface of the cells, which achieve the "auto-compatibilization" of the resulting blend. Two types of auto-concentration will be investigated. (1) The two concentrated emulsions do not contain di-vinyl-terminated macromonomers. The compatibilization is achieved in this case by the formation of copolymers near the surface of the cells. (2) The two concentrated emulsions contain di-vinyl-terminated macromonomers. The compatibilization is achieved in this case via the formation of compatibilizers with network structures. The most distinctive feature of the method is that the blended polymers and the compatibilization are generated simultaneously.