Fast determination of phase inversion in polymer blends using ultrasonic technique

Ultrasonic attenuation and velocity, together with SEM observation were used to investigate the morphology of some polymer blends. For miscible polymer blends of PVC/NBR, because there is no phase inversion but a homogeneous system a linear change (without discontinuity) of ultrasonic velocity and attenuation was observed in a whole composition ranges. For immiscible polymer blends, namely, PP/PS, PS/EPDM and PS/SBS system, the non-linear variation of ultrasonic velocity with composition indicates the immiscibility. On the other hand, the intensity of scattering attenuation changed from system to system depending on the size of dispersed phase, but a discontinuity of scattering attenuation was always observed as the phase inversion occurred. Our result suggests the sensitivity of ultrasonic attention vs phase inversion and may be served as a useful method to fast determine the phase inversion for immiscible polymer blends.