Modification of the Phase Stability of Polymer Blends by Fillers

Published

November 1, 2000

Author(s)

Alamgir Karim, D W. Liu, Jack F. Douglas, A Nakatani, Eric J. Amis

Abstract

We investigate the influence of surface modified filler particles on the phase stability of a model blend of polystyrene (PS) and polybutadiene (PB). The upper critical solution cloud point curve of PS/PB is destabilized (upward shift of critical temperature) for bare (untreated) fumed silica filler particles, unchanged for fumed silica with end-grafted PS chains, and stabilized by fumed silica surface treated with silane coupling agents. These surface treatments were designed to modify the relative affinity of PS and PB for the surface of the fumed silica particles and show that the phase boundary can be controlled through a modification of the filler particle surface chemistry. The existence of phase boundary shifts have potential applications in commercial blends containing dispersions of filler particles.

Citation

Polymer

Volume

41

Issue

No. 23

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

cloud point, filler, phase separation

Citation

Karim, A. , Liu, D. , Douglas, J. , Nakatani, A. and Amis, E. (2000), Modification of the Phase Stability of Polymer Blends by Fillers, Polymer, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=851736 (Accessed October 20, 2025)