Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Coalescence suppression in model immiscible polymer blends by nano-sized colloidal particles

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
Rheologica Acta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of nanometer sized silica particles (R≈16 nm) on the flow-induced morphology of immiscible polymer blends is studied. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyisobutylene (PIB) are chosen as model components. A stable droplet/matrix microstructure is obtained for blends of 30% PIB in 70% PDMS or vice versa. Rheological measurements are used to show that the silica particles alter the sensitivity of the of dispersed phase/matrix microstructure to shear flow. Coalescence is suppressed or at least slowed down on a practical time scale, especially when PDMS is the matrix phase. The effect of mixing conditions, pre-shear rate and particle concentration on the blend morphology are studied. Cryo-SEM is used to observe the accumulation of the particles at the interface. Blends stabilized by solid particles could provide an interesting alternative to blends compatibilized by block-copolymers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2a,b
Fig. 3a–d
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9a–c
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aveyard R, Clint JH, Nees D, Paunov VN (2000) Compression and structure of monolayers of charged latex particles at air-water and octane-water interfaces. Langmuir 16:1969–1979

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aveyard R, Binks BP, Clint JH (2003) Emulsions stabilised solely by colloidal particles. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 100:503–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binks BP (2002) Particles as surfactants—similarities and differences. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 7:21–41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Binks BP, Lumsdon SO (2001) Pickering emulsions stabilized by monodisperse latex particles: effects of particle size. Langmuir 17:4540–4547

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calberg C, Blacher S, Gubbels F, Brouers F, Deltour R, Jerome R (1999) Electrical and dielectric properties of carbon black filled co-continuous two-phase polymer blends. J Phys D Appl Phys 32:1517–1525

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cicuta P, Stancik EJ, Fuller GG (2003) Shearing or compressing a soft glass in 2D: time-concentration superposition. Phys Rev Lett 90: art no 236101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding J, Warriner HE, Zasadzinski JA (2002) Viscosity of two-dimensional suspensions. Phys Rev Lett 88: art no 168102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grace HP (1982) Dispersion phenomena in high-viscosity immiscible fluid systems and application of static mixers as dispersion devices in such systems. Chem Eng Commun 14:225–277

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoekstra H, Vermant J, Mewis J, Fuller GG (2003) Flow-induced anisotropy and reversible aggregation in two-dimensional suspensions. Langmuir 19:9134–9141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jansseune T, Vinckier I, Moldenaers P, Mewis J (2001) Transient stresses in immiscible model polymer blends during start-up flows. J Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech 99:167–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Kralchevsky PA, Nagayama K (2001) Particles at fluid interfaces and membranes: attachment of colloid particles and proteins to interfaces and formation of two-dimensional arrays. Elsevier (Amsterdam)

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin JE, Schaefer DW, Hurd AJ (1986) Fractal geometry of vapor-phase aggregates Phys Rev A 33:3540–3543

    Google Scholar 

  • Minale M, Moldenaers P, Mewis J (1997) Effect of shear history on the morphology of immiscible polymer blends. Macromolecules 30:5470–5475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mironi-Harpaz I, Narkis M (2001) Electrical behavior and structure of polypropylene/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/carbon black immiscible blends. J Appl Polym Sci 81:104–115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Narayanan T, Diat O, Bosecke P (2001) SAXS and USAXS on the high brilliance beamline at the ESRF. Nucl Instrum Methods A 467:1005–1009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palierne JF (1991) Linear rheology of viscoelastic emulsions with interfacial tension. Rheol Acta 29:204–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Preuss M, Butt H-J (1998) Measuring the contact angle of individual colloidal particles. J Colloid Interface Sci 208:468–477

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rusu D, Peuvrel-Disdier E (1999) In situ characterization by small angle light scattering of the shear-induced coalescence mechanisms in immiscible polymer blends. J Rheol 43:1391–1409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sigillo I, diSanto L, Guido S, Grizzuti N (1997) Comparative measurements of interfacial tension in a model polymer blend. Polym Eng Sci 37:1540–1549

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stancik EJ, Widenbrant MJO, Laschitsch AT, Vermant J, Fuller GG (2002) Structure and dynamics of particle monolayers at a liquid-liquid interface subjected to extensional flow. Langmuir 18:4372–4379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stancik EJ, Gavranovic GT, Widenbrant MJO, Laschitsch AT, Vermant J, Fuller GG (2003) Structure and dynamics of particle monolayers at a liquid-liquid interface subjected to shear flow. Faraday Discuss 123:145–156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stancik EJ, Hawkinson AL, Vermant J, Fuller GG (2004a) Dynamic transitions and oscillatory melting of a two dimensional crystal subjected to shear flow. J Rheol 48:159–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stancik EJ, Kouhkan M, Fuller GG (2004b) Coalescence of Particle-Laden fluid interfaces. Langmuir 20:90–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takhashi Y, Jurashima N, Noda I, Doi M (1994) Experimental tests of the scaling relation for textured materials in mixtures of 2 immiscible fluids. J Rheol 38:699–712

    Google Scholar 

  • Tambe DE, Sharma MS (1993) Factors controlling the stability of colloid stabilized emulsions. Langmuir 157:244–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker CL, Moldenaers P (2002) Microstructural evolution in polymer blends. Annu Rev Fluid Mech 34:177–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Puyvelde P, Velankar S, Moldenaers P (2001) Rheology and morphology of compatibilized polymer blends. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 6:457–463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vignati E, Piazza R (2003) Pickering emulsions: interfacial tension, colloidal layer morphology, and trapped-particle motion. Langmuir 19:6650–6656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vinckier (1998) Microstructural analysis and rheology of immiscible polymer blends. PhD thesis, K.U. Leuven

  • Vinckier I, Moldenaers P, Mewis J (1996) Relationship between rheology and morphology of model blends in steady shear flow. J Rheol 40:613–631

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vinckier I, Moldenaers P, Terracciano AM, Grizzuti N (1998) Droplet size evolution during coalescence in semiconcentrated model blends. AIChE J 44:951–958

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu SH (1982) Polymer and interface adhesion. Marcel Dekker

  • Wu SH (1987) Formation of dispersed phase in incompatible blend: interfacial and rheological effects. Polym Eng Sci 27(5):335–343

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan N, Maham Y, Masliyah JH, Gray MR, Mather AE (2000) Measurement of contact angles for fumed silica nanospheres using enthalpy of immersion data. J Colloid Interface Sci 228:1–6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support form the Bijzonder onderzoeksfonds K. U. Leuven (Goa 98/06-GOA 2003/06) and FWO-Vlaanderen (project G0335.01). We acknowledge support of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in providing the facilities and financial support for the X-ray scattering experiments (experiment SC-1048.)

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, W. De Croylaan 46, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium

    J. Vermant, G. Cioccolo, K. Golapan Nair & P. Moldenaers

Authors
  1. J. Vermant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Cioccolo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Golapan Nair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Moldenaers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Vermant.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vermant, J., Cioccolo, G., Golapan Nair, K. et al. Coalescence suppression in model immiscible polymer blends by nano-sized colloidal particles. Rheol Acta 43, 529–538 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-004-0381-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-004-0381-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation