Morphology characterization of multi-phase polymer composites by viscoelastic property analysis

The viscoelastic properties of emulsion blends composed of matrix and heterocoagulated particles were measured to investigate the morphology of the heterocoagulated particles. The microstructure of heterocoagulated particles depends on the degree of compatibility of small particles (SP) with large particles (LP). If the constituents of SP has a certain degree of compatibility with that of LP, an interdiffusion occurs during the annealing process at the dispersion state and the SP component in the heterocoagulated particles loses its own characteristics. On the other hand, when the SP is not compatible with LP, it was found that the SP formed its own phase. As a consequence, the molded specimen made from the emulsion blend of heterocoagulated particle and the matrix shows different dynamic mechanical behavior depending on the morphological characteristics of SP.