Dynamic Rheological Behavior and Morphology of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/Poly(ethylene octene) Copolymer Blends

The dynamic rheology and morphology of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) and maleic anhydride grafted poly(ethylene octene) composites were investigated. A specific viscoelastic phenomenon, that is, a second plateau, appeared at low frequencies and exhibited a certain dependence on the content of elastomer particles and the temperature. This phenomenon was attributed to the formation of an aggregation structure of rubber particles. The analyses of the dynamic viscoelastic functions suggested that the heterogeneity of the composites was enhanced as the particle content or temperature increased. The microstructural observation by scanning electron microscopy confirmed that maleic anhydride could react with the end groups of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) to form a stable interfacial layer and result in a smaller dispersed-phase particle size due to the reduced interface tension. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115: 1015-1021, 2010