Statistical adhesion strength of an amorphous polymer–its miscible blend interface self-healed at a temperature below the bulk glass transition temperature

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe distribution of the lap-shear strength developed at an amorphous asymmetric compatible interface between the contacting thick (bulk) films of entangled polystyrene (PS) with its miscible blend with poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) (75 wt.% PS and 25 wt.% PPO) at a constant healing temperature (T) of 90°C has been analyzed by using a Weibull statistical model. This T was below the bulk glass transition temperatures (Tgbulk) of PS and PS-PPO blend of 103°C and 121°C, respectively, but above the surface glass transition temperatures (Tgsurface) of PS of 55°C and of the blend of 83°C. The so-called Weibull modulus and the scale parameter have been estimated for the partially self-healed PS–(PS-PPO blend) interface and analyzed as a function of healing time. The results obtained have been discussed and compared with those reported recently for the PS and poly(methyl methacrylate) interfaces.