Average particle size in polymer blends obtained by dielectric spectroscopy

Previously we focussed on the dielectric properties of laminates and blends consisting of a weakly conducting and an insulating phase. Dielectric spectroscopy was used as a tool to obtain information about the dimensions of the conducting phase. With decreasing thickness of the conducting layer in the laminates, the permittivities measured were found to deviate more and more from those predicted by the conventional, series mixture rule. This discrepancy allowed us to calculate the thickness of the ionic charge layer (or the Debye length) in the conducting phase and also the thickness of this phase itself, using a model derived by Trukhan. His mixture model incorporates not only conduction, but also diffusion of charges. DS was also performed on a blend of Vectra B particles in a polypropylene matrix. After deriving a new model, which combined Trukhan´s model with Bottcher´s equation for dielectric mixtures, we could calculate the average particle size. Here we will discuss which average particle size is actually determined by dielectric measurements