The compatibility and morphology of HIPS/PC and HIPS-g-GMA/PC blends

The compatibility and morphology of HIPS/PC and HIPS-g-GMA/PC blends were studied. The compatibility and morphology of HIPS/PC blends were characterized by DSC and SEM, respectively. The result of DSC shows that T-g of PS doesn't change with the blend composition, and T-g of PC decreases with the increase in weight fraction of HIPS, which indicates that the PC/HIPS blend is a partially miscible system. Results of SEM indicate that the decrease in T-g of PC results from PS interpenetrating into the phase of PC, and no change in T-g of PS results from PC not interpenetrating into the phase of PS. The copolymer of HIPS-g-GMA was prepared by reactive grafting method. The IR spectrum shows that GMA is grafted on the chain of HIPS. The compatibility and morphology of HIPS-gGMA (35)/PC (65) were studied by DSC and SEM. PC (65)/HEPS-g-GMA (35) blend exhibits reduced size of disperse phase, enhanced interface adhesion and lower T-g of PC phase as compared with the PC(65)/HIPS(35) blend. It implies that HIPS-g-GMA is an effective compatibilizer of the HIPS/PC blend.