Abstract
A hypothesis providing a guideline for the development of immiscible polymer blends with co-continuous phase structure at very low critical volume fraction of one component is. postulated and experimentally verified. Based on a number of simplifying assumptions the following relation was derived: phi(cr) = k(lambdagamma)(1-z)/(theta(b)(*))(z) where lambdagamma is a Deborah number and theta(b)(*) is a dimensionless break-up time. The equation parameters, k and z are constant that depend on the flow field hence on the blending equipment. For the studies an internal mixer with Walzenkneter-type 30 mixing shafts was used. For this equipment the experimental values of the equation parameters, k = 1801 and z = 2.01, were found. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Polymer |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 5 |
Pages (from-to) | 1661-1669 |
ISSN | 0032-3861 |
Publication status | Published - 2003 |