Abstract
The effect of interfacial adhesion on the mechanical properties of an incompatible polymer blend was investigated. For this purpose, the preparation of non-cross-linked and cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate) particles having mean sizes of about 0.8 μm was completed by seeded emulsion polymerization, and the number and the distribution of cross-linked points in the particles were varied. The emulsion particles obtained were powdered by a freeze–dry method and dispersed into a poly(vinyl chloride) matrix by melt blending. The non-cross-linked particles were completely dissolved in the matrix because poly(methyl methacrylate) has good compatibility with poly(vinyl chloride). On the other hand, in the case of the cross-linked particles, the mutual diffusion of the polymer molecules was restricted within the particle/matrix interfacial regions owing to the cross-linked points. Additionally, interfacial structures with different concentration slope dependent upon the number and the distribution of inner cross-linked points were developed with the same domain size. Mechanical and fracture properties were measured. As a result, both yield stress and fracture toughness decreased with a decrease in the interfacial adhesion, and the decrease was found to occur as a result of interfacial debonding. When the interfacial adhesion was sufficient it was never observed that the level was lower than that of the components.
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