Effect of mixing sequence on morphology of ternary polymer blends with core-shell inclusions

Selective/dictated localization of compatibilizer at core/shell or shell/matrix interface of a ternary polymer blend with core-shell type morphology can significantly facilitate/impede stress transfer across phase boundaries. In this paper, morphological development was studied to compare dictated with selective localization of HDPE-grafted maleic anhydride (HDPE-g-MAH) compatibilizer in ternary blends comprising PA6/EVOH core/shell droplets. Three types of mixing sequence including a simultaneous one-step (selective compatibilization) and two different two-step (dictated compatibilization) mixing policies were applied for preparation of ternary blends in a twin screw extruder.