Confined crystallization phenomena in immiscible polymer blends with dispersed micro – and nanometer sized PA6 droplets, part 1: uncompatibilized PS/PA6, (PPE/PS)/PA6 and PPE/PA6 blends

In this paper the crystallization behavior of PA6, dispersed as droplets in various immiscible amorphous polymer matrices, is reported. PA6 was melt-mixed at various compositions with PS, (PPE/PS 50/50 wt/wt) and PPE using twin-screw extrusion. The phase morphologies of the obtained blends were analysed using SEM, etching experiments and image analysis. The crystallization behavior of PA6 was investigated by dynamic and isothermal DSC experiments. In case PA6 is dispersed as droplets, fractionated crystallization behavior occurs, characterized by several crystallization events at different, lowered crystallization temperatures. It is found to depend on the blend morphology (size of the droplets) and the thermal history of the samples (heterogeneous nucleation density). The PA6 droplet size distribution is shown to strongly influence the crystallization behavior of the droplets. Vitrification of the matrix appears to cause nucleation in the droplets at the interface. Decreasing the PA6 droplet size results in slower overall crystallization rates.