Study and simulation of the microstructure development of polymeric blends and composites during the processing

Abstract

It is common knowledgement that the final microstructure of a polymeric material will determine its mechanical and optical properties ant that this microstructure, on the other hand, is dependent on the processing conditions (temperature, pressure and deformational flow fields). In the injection molding of thermoplastics immiscible blends, this final microstructure will be result of the competition between the processes of deformation, breakage and coalescence of both phases; these deformational processes occur during the plastification, filling and cooling steps of the injection-molding machine. On the other hand, in the tubular film process, this competition occurs only inside the extrusion barrel. In both cases, however, the microstructurem that is the morphology (form, size and size distribution of the disperse phase), the crystallinity and the orientation of both phases will change as the processing conditions change. The main objective of this project, therefore, is to study the development of the microstructure of immiscible blends and fiberglass composites during the injection molding and tubular film processes in order to modelate and simulate this development. Secondary objectives will be the correlation between the final microstructure of these blends and composites and their mechanical, optical and transport properties. (AU)