Composition and compatibilization induced morphology alteration in PVDF/LLDPE blends: correlation between rheology and morphology

Correlation between the rheology and morphology of PVDF/LLDPE blends as well as the effect of LLDPE-g-MA compatibilizer on the microstructure and viscoelastic properties of these blends were studied in detail. Morphology development from matrix-dispersed to co-continuous and again to dispersed-matrix was well predicted using various linear viscoelastic analyses and confirmed via direct SEM experiments and continuity index analysis. Compatibilization induced alteration in the microstructure of the blends, particularly PVDF/PE 50/50 blend from co-continuous morphology to dispersed-matrix one, was also concluded from viscoelastic analysis and confirmed. It was shown that the feeding order had a distinct effect on morphology of the blends near the phase inversion composition. "Phase within a phase within a phase" morphology was observed near the phase inversion region, provided that the components are fed simultaneously. Different melting and crystallization temperature range of PVDF and PE phases was understood to be the main reason of this observation. It was also shown that compatibilization had higher impact on LLDPE-rich blends than PVDF-rich blends, while narrowed the co-continuity composition range.