Rheology and Morphology of ABS/PA6 Immiscible Blends: Interpretation of rheological data with Palierne and Fractional Zener models

Rheology and morphology of PA6/ABS immiscible blends were studied. The blends with different compositions were prepared using a twin screw extruder at temperature of 240℃ and with a screw rotation speed of 60 rpm. Dispersed phase domains size of the blends with dispersed-matrix morphology was predicted by Taylor model and it was in a good agreement with the results obtained from image analysis of the SEM micrographs. Also, a co-continuous morphology was observed for the blend with the same content (50 wt%) of the components. The linear viscoelastic behavior of the blends was analyzed using Palierne and Fractional Zener models. The Palierne model predicted well the rheological behavior of PA6-rich blends while it was incapable of predicting the rheological behavior of ABS-rich blends due to the their solid like rheological behavior. The experimental data of linear viscoelastic behavior of both PA6-rich and ABS-rich bends were satisfyingly fitted by Fractional Zener model (FZM). A large value of Ge, elastic modulus of the spring element of FZM, for ABS-rich blends was explained by solid like rheological behavior of these blends

Keywords:

Polymer blend , morphology , rheology , polyamide6 , acrylonitrile butadiene styrene , fractional Zener model , Palierne model