Experimental observation and prediction of interfacial tension and viscoelastic emulsion model behavior in novel phosphate glass–polymer hybrids

Abstract

The interfacial tension of hybrids composed of a tin-based phosphate glass (Pglass) and thermoplastic polymers, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP) was investigated using pendant drop and droplet deformation methods. High surface tension values were determined for the pure Pglass and subsequently used to obtain interfacial tension values that were found to be greater than that of most polymer blends reported in the literature. Small amplitude oscillatory shear data were fitted to the Choi–Schowalter and Palierne emulsion models in order to estimate the interfacial tension and to validate the accuracy (or lack thereof) of using a polymer emulsion model on the special Pglass–polymer systems. Although some of the hybrids showed satisfactory agreement with the emulsion models, wide ranges of interfacial tensions were obtained, suggesting that a more complicated theory that explicitly takes the Pglass–polymer interactions, shape factor, and size distributions of the dispersed Pglass phase into account may be necessary for more accurate modeling of these special hybrid systems with enhanced benefits.