Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Three-dimensional observation of the phase structure of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/poly(ethylene-co-butene) (PEB) blend by laser scanning confocal microscopy

  • Articles
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

In this paper, high density polyethylene (HDPE)/poly(ethylene-co-butene) (PEB) blend (50/50 wt%) was prepared through solution blending and then compression molding, and subsequently examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The PEB used in this experiment was labeled with a small quantity of a fluorescein derivative to render fluorescence. The initial films showed uniform dye distribution and no indication of phase separation within the resolution of optical microscopy. Sample films annealing at 140°C followed by rapid cooling to room temperature showed obvious phase separation and bicontinuous structure. The present work indicates that by labeling one component with fluorescein derivative, LSCM can efficiently perform in situ depth profiling of polymer blends.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Paul D R. Polymer Blends. New York: Academic Press, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  2. Utracki L A. Polymer Blends Handbook. London: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hashimoto T, Itakura M, Hasegawa H. Late stage spinodal decomposition of a binary polymer mixture. I. Critical test of dynamical scaling on scattering function. J Chem Phys, 1986, 85(10): 6118–6128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hashimoto T, Itakura M, Shimidzu N. Late stage spinodal decomposition of a binary polymer mixture. II. Scaling analyses on Q m(τ) and I m(τ)a. J Chem Phys, 1986, 85(11): 6773–6786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Okada M, Han C C. Experimental study of thermal fluctuation in spinodal decomposition of a binary polymer mixture. J Chem Phys, 1986, 85(9): 5317–5327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Sato T, Han C C. Dynamics of concentration fluctuation in a polymer blend on both sides of the phase boundary. J Chem Phys, 1988, 88(3): 2057–2065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Takenaka M, Hashimoto T. Scattering studies of self-assembling processes of polymer blends in spinodal decomposition. II. Temperature dependence. J Chem Phys, 1992, 96(8): 6177–6190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Takeno H, Hashimoto T. Crossover of domain-growth behavior from percolation to cluster regime in phase separation of an off-critical polymer mixture. J Chem Phys, 1997, 107(5): 1634–1644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Jinnai H, Hasegawa H, Hashimoto T, et al. Time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering in intermediate- and late-stage spinodal decomposition of perdeuterated polybutadiene-protonated polyisoprene blends. Macromolecules, 1991, 24(1): 282–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Jinnai H, Hasegawa H, Hashimoto T, et al. Time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering study of spinodal decomposition in deuterated and protonated polybutadiene blends. I. Effect of initial thermal fluctuations. J Chem Phys, 1993, 99(6): 4845–4854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Jinnai H, Hasegawa H, Hashimoto T, et al. Time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering study of spinodal decomposition in deuterated and protonated polybutadiene blends. II. Q-dependence of Onsager kinetic coefficient. J Chem Phys, 1993, 99(10): 8154–8161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Jinnai H, Hasegawa H, Hashimoto T, et al. Late stage spinodal decomposition in binary critical fluids: scaling function obtained over a wide q-space of 4 orders of magnitude. Physica A, 1994, 204(2): 261–276

    Google Scholar 

  13. Takeno H, Nakamura E, Hashimoto T. Heterogeneous percolation-to-cluster transition in phase separation of an off-critical polymer mixture. J Chem Phys, 1999, 110(7): 3612–3620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Crist B. On “pinning” domain growth in two-phase polymer liquids. Macromolecules, 1996, 29(22): 7276–7279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Läuger J, Lay R, Gronski W. The percolation-to-cluster transition during spinodal decomposition of an off-critical polymer mixture. Observation by light scattering and optical microscopy. J Chem Phys, 1994, 101(8): 7181–7184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Li L, Chen L, Winnik MA, et al. Morphology evolution and location of ethylene-propylene copolymer in annealed polyethylene/polypropylene blends. J Polym Sci, Part B: Polym Phys, 1997, 35(6): 979–991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Li L, Sosnowski S, Winnik M A, et al. Coalescence at the surface of a polymer blend as studied by laser confocal fluorescence microscopy. Langmuir, 1996, 12(9): 2141–2144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Jinnai H, Hasegawa H, Hashimoto T, et al. Direct observation of three-dimensional bicontinuous structure developed via spinodal decomposition. Macromolecules, 1995, 28(13): 4782–4784

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Jinnai H, Yoshida H, Hashimoto T, et al. Observation of fine structure in bicontinuous phase-separated domains of a polymer blend by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Macromolecules, 2001, 34(15): 5186–5191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Moffitt M, Rharbi Y, Winnik M A. Surface-directed morphology evolution in ternary blends of polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-propylene copolymer: a study by laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy. J Polym Sci, Part B: Polym Phys, 2003, 41(6): 637–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhang C G. Study on the phase separation and shear-induced crystallization behaviors of polyolefin. Ph.D. Dissertation (in Chinese). Institute of Chemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2006, 46–67

  22. Xie H Q, Feng D S, Guo J S. Solution maleation of EPDM and blending of acetal copolymer with rubber using maleated EPDM as compatibilizer. J Appl Polym Sci, 1997, 64(2): 329–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. De Vito G, Lanzetta N, Maglio G, et al. Functionalization of an amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymer by free radical initiated grafting of unsaturated molecules. J Polym Sci Polym Chem Ed, 1984, 22(8): 1335–1347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Cimmino S, D’Orazio L, Greco R, et al. Morphology — properties relationships in binary polyamide 6/rubber blends: Influence of the addition of a functionalized rubber. Polym Eng Sci, 1984, 24(1): 48–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Scalvons M, Carlier V, Devaux J. The anhydride content of some commercial PP-g-MA: FTIR and titration. J Appl Polym Sci, 1996, 62(8): 1205–1210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Wilson T. Confocal Microscopy. London: Academic Press, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wang H, Shimizu K, Han C C, et al. Competing growth kinetics in simultaneously crystallizing and phase-separating polymer blends. J Chem Phys, 2002, 116(16): 7311–7315

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Joint Laboratory of Polymer Science and Materials, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, China

    Zhang ChengGui, Dong Xia, Wang DuJin & Han Charles C.

  2. School of Material and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

    Zhang ChengGui

  3. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, China

    Zhang ChengGui

Authors
  1. Zhang ChengGui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dong Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wang DuJin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Han Charles C.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Han Charles C..

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20574081 and 20490220), and 973 Program of MOST of China (Grant No. 2003CB 615600)

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, C., Dong, X., Wang, D. et al. Three-dimensional observation of the phase structure of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/poly(ethylene-co-butene) (PEB) blend by laser scanning confocal microscopy. CHINESE SCI BULL 52, 2042–2047 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0291-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0291-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation