RAMAN MICROIMAGING OF POLYMER BLENDS

摘要

Raman microimaging technique was used to study the distribution of silica filler and elastomer domains in binary and ternary polymer blends containing BR,BIMS,NR and/or SBR.Contour maps depicting distribution of elastomers and silica were obtained for 1 urn thick sections of blends of different compositions.All polymers were uniformly distributed throughout the blends;however,on a micrometer scale local fluctuations were clearly observed.The BR component does not mix with BIMS and sometimes single-phase domains of sizes exceeding 5 mum were observed.Addition of SBR or NR improves BR dispersion.At low concentrations natural rubber concentrates near the BR domains but at high concentrations natural rubber forms it own network and may also be found near the BIMS domains.SBR was found inside or near the BR domains.Silica was dispersed throughout the blends,but tends to aggregate near the boundaries of the BIMS domains.Sometimes silica was present within the BIMS domains,but never inside of the BR domains.