Dynamic Rheological and Mechanical Behaviour of Poly(dimethylsiloxane)/Low Density Polyethylene Immiscible Blends: Interfacial Modification via Reactive Blending

Dynamic rheological behaviour and mechanical properties of neat and reactive LDPE/PDMS immiscible blends were investigated, focusing on low frequency data analysis as an approach for microstructural characterization. It was observed that by analyzing low frequency data, some microstructural features such as development of continuity in the minor phase and occurrence of interfacial slip phenomenon of neat blends could be revealed. Development of continuity in the minor phase, as proved by SEM micrographs, resulted in a significant increase in low frequency values of 1 ] and 1 ( while interfacial slip phenomenon was inferred by comparing the rheological data with predictions of log-additivity and inverse mixing rules. To induce reactive blending, different amounts of DCP as curing agent was added to PDMS phase. By studying the influence of reactive blending on thermal behaviour and viscoelastic properties in low frequency region it is revealed that curing reaction during melt mixing could lead to formation of an interphase layer which acts as an efficient compatibilizer between the phases. Thus, reactively compatibilized blends exhibit desirable tensile properties.