Preparation of graded materials for miscible polycarbonate/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends by segregation under shear flow

Exposure to shear flow produced by a pressure-driven capillary rheometer provides a concentration gradient without phase separation in miscible polymer blends of bisphenol-A polycarbonate containing low-molecular-weight poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The strand surface extruded from the rheometer contains a large amount of PMMA. However, the strand is transparent because there is no light scattering due to phase separation. The segregation behavior, that is, enrichment of the PMMA content at the strand surface, is enhanced when the molecular weight of PMMA is low. Furthermore, the segregation is also enhanced at high temperatures and at high shear rates. By contrast, the die length barely affects the degree of segregation. The segregation phenomenon should be noted because it may facilitate the modification of the surface properties of various products.

Automated summary

Exposure to shear flow in a pressure-driven capillary rheometer can create concentration gradients without phase separation in miscible polymer blends. Surface enrichment of PMMA in the extruded strand is enhanced when the molecular weight of PMMA is low, and is also influenced by temperature and shear rate. Die length, however, has minimal effect on the segregation behavior. This phenomenon is important for modifying the surface properties of various products.