The effect of blending temperature, composition, and shear rate on PET/Vectra A900 LCP blend viscosity and morphology

摘要

AbstractThe rheological and morphological properties of several melt‐blended compositions of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and Vectra A900 liquid crystalline polyester were investigated, using blending temperature, composition, and shear rate as variables. Rheological behavior was determined at several shear rates on an Instron capillary rheometer at 300°C, and three‐dimensional surface plots of the results were prepared, detailing the effect on melt viscosity of changes in the variables. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the internal morphology of selected samples. In the preparation of melt blends containing an isotropic and anisotropic polymer, blending temperature and composition both influence the resulting morphology. These effects are accentuated during extrusion of the blends at low shear rates and diminished at high shear r