Study of mechanical properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) polymers and their blends

Presented work is an effort to observe the variation in mechanical properties of two thermoplastic materials PVC, PS and their blends. PVC and PS are taken in the ratio of 100:0, 70:30, 50:50, and 0:100. Mixing of PVC and PS is carried out by solution casting method using tetra hydro furan as solvent. Dynamical mechanical analyzer (DMA) is used to study mechanical properties. The storage modulus, loss modulus and mechanical loss factor (tan delta) are determined with temperature. The pallets of pure PS, PVC and their blends are scanned over a temperature range from room to 140 degrees C. The variation of modulus, tan delta of pure PVC & pure PS and their blends with temperature were studied. The observed variation in modulus and tan delta could be accounted for their thermal behavior and compositions.