Mechanical and wear properties of polymethylmethacrylate and polyvinylidene fluoride blends

Abstract

There are several studies regarding the miscibility of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) blends in the molten state along with the rheological properties; however, there is a lack of information regarding the glassy state. The mechanical and wear properties of this system were investigated using both steady and dynamic tests. The results do not follow a simple additive rule of mixtures, but they can be readily explained by the phase morphology of the system. The system is semi-compatible with both an amorphous domain and a crystalline domain. The results for increasing PMMA concentration are: glass transition temperature, T g (− 34–130°C); storage modulus, E′ (1.1–2.6 GPa); flexural strength, σ o (75–96 MPa); compressive strength, σ c (60–120 MPa); and relative wear rate, R A (0.05–1.8 μm/rev). The amorphous blend had a saturation limit of about 40 wt% PVDF.