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Morphology evolution during cooling of quiescent immiscible polymer blends: matrix crystallization effect on the dispersed phase coalescence

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Abstract

The influence of the matrix crystallization on the coalescence of the dispersed phase particles, in quiescent immiscible polymer blends, is a topic that is scientifically addressed scarcely. The coarsening of the phase structure that is induced by the matrix crystallizing domains was studied using the well-established system comprising a polypropylene and an ethylene–propylene rubber (PP/EPR blends). This subject is of great importance as the effectiveness in the toughening of PP is directly determined by the EPR particle size. Cooling experiments were commenced for resolving the correlation among the imposed cooling conditions, the formed matrix crystalline morphology, and the coalescence of the dispersed phase particles. A confirmation of the profound effect of the PP crystallization on the coalescence of EPR particles was undoubtedly obtained. The contribution of the crystallization to the coalescence of the dispersed phase particles is largest at a finite rate of cooling. A thorough discussion regarding the observed effects, encompassing a potential rejection or an engulfing of the dispersed phase particles by the growing crystallites, was undertaken.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support from the Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Grant No. IAA200500903) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06, Prague 6, Czech Republic

    Bojan Dimzoski, Ivan Fortelný, Miroslav Šlouf, Antonín Sikora & Danuše Michálková

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  1. Bojan Dimzoski
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  2. Ivan Fortelný
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  3. Miroslav Šlouf
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  4. Antonín Sikora
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  5. Danuše Michálková
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Correspondence to Bojan Dimzoski.

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Dimzoski, B., Fortelný, I., Šlouf, M. et al. Morphology evolution during cooling of quiescent immiscible polymer blends: matrix crystallization effect on the dispersed phase coalescence. Polym. Bull. 70, 263–275 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-012-0848-1

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