Investigations on blending and foaming behavior of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene/polystyrene blends

R. Banerjee, S. S. Ray, Anup K. Ghosh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The interplay of screw speed and residence time during polymer blend extrusion profoundly influences blend properties. Herein, blends of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) and polystyrene (PS) containing 30 % by weight PS were prepared at a constant feed rate but different screw speeds (50, 100, 200 and 300 min–1). The blend produced at 100 min–1 (B100) possessed a finer morphology, better mechanical and rheological properties, attributed to suitability of residence time and viscosity ratio. When batch foamed with carbon dioxide at 110°C and 100°C, all blends produced stable foams. B100 foams exhibited higher volume expansion ratio (VE) due to higher complex viscosity and storage modulus. When foaming was conducted at 35°C, all foams shrank. B100 foams possessed higher cell density, lower VE and showed faster shrinkage due to increased nucleation and hindered expansion by the finely dispersed stiff PS aggregates during selective foaming of the elastomeric phase.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)434-445
Number of pages12
JournalInternational Polymer Processing
Volume32
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Materials Chemistry

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