Influence of Interfacial Activity and Micelle Formation on Rheological Behavior and Microstructure of Reactively Compatibilized PP/PET Blends

Dynamic and start-up shear flow experiments along with SEM analysis are described for a PP/PET blend compatibilized by two reactive compatibilizers with different interfacial activity and rheological characteristics. The linear viscoelastic behavior of the blends is discussed using Palierne and fractional Zener models (FZMs). The nonzero value of Ge, the elastic modulus of spring element of FZM, is explained by the network-like structure of the blends attributed to the interconnectivity between dispersed-phase domains. Ge increases with increasing interfacial activity. Micelle formation due to extra amounts of compatibilizer in a system with higher interfacial activity leads to an increase of the elastic modulus, but to Ge?=?0 in system with lower interfacial activity.