International Polymer Processing, Vol.11, No.2, 139-146, 1996
Reactive blending in a twin screw extruder - Experimental and theoretical approaches
We studied the morphology of a reactive blend, constituted by an EVA/EMA phase dispersed in a polypropylene matrix. The dispersed phase was crosslinked in-situ during the extrusion through a transesterification reaction, catalysed by dibutyltin oxide. Rheological studies allowed the define the changes in rheological behaviour during the crosslinking reaction. Using a flow model developed for two in screw extruders, we computed the reaction extent along the screws and the corresponding blend morphology using a very simple approach. Theoretical results underestimate the extent of the reaction, but explain qualitatively the general tendencies when varying operating parameters.
Keywords:ETHYLENE VINYL-ACETATE;CO-CROSS-LINKING;POLYMER BLEND;DISPERSED PHASE;MORPHOLOGY;TRANSESTERIFICATION;COALESCENCE;COPOLYMERS