Investigating a Polymer Carbon Fiber Interface

2 Polystyrene Polyethylene Blend - Imaging the Effect of a Compatibilizer 

Mixing of polymers is an important process in the polymer industry by combining the strength of different polymers through blending, new products with desirable physical properties can be produced [2]. FT-IR imaging with a micro-ATR objective has been used to study the effect of a compatibilizer on the mixing of two immiscible polymers, namely polystyrene (PS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The compatibilizer used in this study is a triblock copolymer of polystyrene-f -poly(ethylene-butylene)-f)-polystyrene (SEES). The blends are prepared with a micro-extruder, which allows small amounts of the materials to be blended [2]. The two polymers are easily characterized by their specific absorption bands at 1492 and 1450 cm for PS and the band at 1466 cm for LDPE. 

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