The effect of viscosity of polyethylene on the evolution of phase structure during the mixing of polypropylene/EPDM elastomer/polyethylene blends

The dependences of phase structure and notch impact strength on conditions of mixing have been compared for the binary blend PP/EPDM and for two ternary blends PP/EPDM/PE possessing different viscosities of polyethylene. At low rates and short times of mixing a phase structure with pronounced inhomogeneities (particles of the dispersed phase having diameters of tens μm) is formed in all blends. Conditions of mixing needed for the formation of a homogeneous phase structure (with particles having diameters of several μm) depend on the average viscosity of the components forming the inclusions (EPDM elastomer or EPDM elastomer/polyethylene). Depending on the conditions of mixing and on the rheological properties of components, substitution of one part of the EPDM elastomer with PE may lead to an increase or decrease in the impact strength of the final blend.