Blends of Plasticized Polyvinyl Butyral and Polyvinyl Chloride: Morphology Analysis in View of Recycling

The morphology development of blends of plasticized polyvinyl butyral (PVB) with plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is studied to obtain a droplet‐in‐matrix morphology. Such blends can be used for recycling wastes of plasticized PVB in PVC for flooring because migration of the plasticizer of PVB towards the surface is reduced. Model systems of PVC plasticized with diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and of PVB plasticized with dibutyl sebecate (DBS) are used as representatives of common compositions. The percolation threshold of the PVB phase occurs at 22 vol% of plasticized PVB. The morphology results of an equilibrium between break‐up and coalescence. The dependence of the characteristic dimension upon the volume fraction is described by a power‐law with exponent 1.5 slightly larger than the theoretical value.