Miscibility analysis, viscoelastic properties and morphology of cyclic olefin copolymer/polyolefin elastomer (COC/POE) blends

Miscibility of cyclic olefin copolymer/polyolefin elastomer (COC/POE) blends over full composition range was investigated through determination of viscoelastic characteristics both at melt and solid state as well as by direct morphological analysis using experimental and theoretical approaches. The melt viscosity, storage modulus and Han diagrams were used for analyzing the rheological behavior. It was found that the storage modulus of neat COC was higher than that of neat POE, while the modulus of the blends were in between the modulus of the neat components. Palierne and Gramspacher-Meinssner models were used in order to predict the storage and loss moduli of COC and POE. Better correspondence of Palierne model with the experimental results was observed as compared to the other model. Contrary to the Veenstra model, the calculated modulus via Coran model was reasonably in good agreement with the experimental results for blends with co-continuous morphology. Dynamic mechanical investigations have revealed that COC/POE blends were immiscible which firmly supported the morphological and rheological findings. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.