Deep insight into the key role of carbon black self-networking in the formation of co-continuous-like morphology in polylactide/poly(ether)urethane blends. (15th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiu, Hao; Zhou, Yan; Huang, Chunmei; Bai, Hongwei; Zhang, Qin; Fu, Qiang
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 82(2015)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2016-01-15
• Subjects: Co-continuous-like structure -- Rheology -- Stability -- Self-networking of filler -- Formation mechanism; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2015.10.034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: Polymer blending has been intensively investigated in recent decades because it is a simple way to achieve high-performance polymeric materials. It has been demonstrated that the properties of polymer blends are largely determined by its phase morphology. Recently, a change of sea-island morphology to a unique co-continuous-like structure was observed by adding a small amount of filler particles with self-networking capability in polymer blends. The formation of co-continuous-like structure can impart polymer blends with a good stiffness-toughness balance. However, the underlying mechanism for the formation and evolution of this structure is still not clear. In this work, three types of carbon black (CB) with different self-networking capabilities was used to tailor the phase morphology of polylactide (PLA)/poly(ether)urethane (PU) blend with fixed ratio (85/15 wt/wt). It was found that adding CB with high self-networking capability could lead to an easier formation of co-continuous-like structure compared with those with low self-networking capability, as confirmed by SEM observations. The CB induced co-continuous-like structure was further investigated by rheology time sweep tests. It was found that the formation process and stability of co-continuous-like structure is not only dependent on CB content and CB self-networking capability, but also on sweep temperature and frequency. This work gives a deep insight into the key role of the self-networking capability of fillers in controlling the phase morphology of immiscible polymer blends which can provide guidance for preparing high-performance polymeric materials. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Three kinds of CB with different self-networking capabilities were used to tailor the phase morphology of PLA/PU blends. CB with high self-networking capability could lead to an easier formation of more stable co-continuous-like structure. The kinetics of CB self-networking in PLA/PU blends was studied by rheology. The rheology-self-networking of fillers-phase morphology triadic correlation in fillers-filled polymer blends was established.