REACTIVE COMPATIBILIZATION OF THE BLENDS OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE AND POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE RUBBER

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effect of ethylene-co-methacrylate (EMA) as polymeric chemical compatibilizer on the mechanical, dynamic mechanical, phase morphology, adhesion, and rheological properties of the blends of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)–polydimethylsiloxane rubber (PDMS) was investigated at different blend ratios. Melt blending technique was used to prepare the compatibilized blends. Enhancement of the mechanical properties and the reduction of dispersed PDMS domain size in the alloy confirmed the compatibilization effect of EMA on TPU-PDMS blends. Dynamic mechanical properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus, and the damping factor were evaluated to assess the compatibilization effect of EMA on TPU-PDMS blends. Creep tests revealed that compatibilization led to better dimensional stability. Compatibilized blends with finer PDMS rubber domains showed relatively less reduction in storage modulus as compared with uncompatibilized blends during stress relaxation studies. Rheological analysis suggested that the incorporation of EMA decreased the interfacial slip between the blend constituents, and this also confirmed the compatibilization effect of EMA on TPU-PDMS rubber blends as a polymeric reactive compatibilizer.