Ultrasonic studies on polystyrene/styrene butadiene rubber polymer blends filled with glass fiber and talc

The compatibility of solid blends: PS/SBR, PS/SBR filled with glass fiber and PS/SBR filled with talc were studied using ultrasonic pulse echo technique. Measurements were carried out at room temperature ( 298 K) and a frequency of 3 MHz. The ultrasonic velocity for the compressional wave and that for shear wave have been measured to obtain the elastic moduli data by knowing of density. The variation of ultrasonic wave velocities and elastic moduli with weight percent of the blend was found to be linear in PS/SBR blend, indicating some degree of compatibility but the drawback of elastic moduli indicate incompatibility of the system blend, while it deviates from linearity in blends of PS/SBR filled with glass fiber and talc but the increase in elastic moduli indicates that there is an increase in degree of compatibility between PS and SBR due to adding of glass fiber or talc. The ultrasonic absorptions for longitudinal wave in the temperature range from 298 to 423 K in the studied system were measured using ultrasonic pulse echo technique. Typical results showing the temperature dependence of the ultrasonic absorption at frequencies of 1, 2, 3 and 5 MHz are illustrated for all samples of the different compositions. The study of compositional and temperature dependence of the ultrasonic absorption in the present studied blends reveals the same behavior of the compatibility degree of the blends. Density data of the blends confirmed the ultrasonic results. Also the correlation between hardness and elastic moduli for the present blend systems has been studied. (c) 2006 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.