Properties of the polyethylene/poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)/polystyrene system in the presence of SEPS block copolymers

✍ Scribed by Jürgen Schellenberg

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 162 KB
• Volume: 64
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8995
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19970531)64:9<1835::aid-app20>3.0.co;2-v

✦ Synopsis

An immiscible polymer system of polyethylene (HDPE)/poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)/polystyrene was compatibilized in the presence of a specific formulated compatibilizer and the properties of this system were studied, in particular, as a function of the poly(phenylene ether) and polystyrene content in the blend with polyethylene and as a function of compatibilizer concentration. The compatibilizer used was a hydrogenated styrene/isoprene/styrene triblock copolymer (SEPS) which also contained quantities of polypropylene and paraffin oil. Selected thermal, mechanical, and processing properties were investigated and their special features are discussed. In relation to specific properties like the modulus of elasticity and notched Izod impact strength, the polymer system with a hydrogenated SEPS triblock copolymer investigated seems to be a better compatibilized system than other blends described. The phase behavior of the polymer system was characterized using DSC and showed three general polymer phases: a partially crystalline polyethylene phase, an amorphous mixed phase of miscible poly(phenylene ether) and polystyrene, as well as a preferred isotactic crystalline polypropylene phase.