Kinetic aspects of concentration of solid nanoparticles at the interface in polystyrene–polyethylene mixtures

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe effect of several mixing process parameters on the concentration of carbon black particles at the interface between the polymer components in polyethylene–polystyrene mixtures was studied. It was established that the process of particle transport from the polymer phase to the interface happens only under the action of shear deformation, but simultaneously acting shear stresses prevent particle concentration. The nanoparticle accumulation at the interface is determined not only by how favored this process is thermodynamically, but also by the parameters of the mixing process. The filler concentration at the interface is facilitated by a reduction in the shear stress, polymer viscosity, filler particle size, and preliminary injection of filler into the polymer component that is less effective at wetting the filler surface. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48585.