Compatibilization of polymer blends through the addition of block and graft copolymers has become increasingly important as a means to produce new polymeric materials from existing polymers with an attractive balance of physical properties. This book describes the physical and chemical bases of compatibilizers and the ways they have been synthesized. This reference surveys the application of compatibilization to many polymer blends.

From the Preface: “...[M]any of the good properties of polymer blends come from their two-phase nature, but it is critical to control the size of the phases to control these properties. This is because the important mechanical, transport, and optical properties of a blend of macromolecules depend critically on the sizes of the phases. Because of this a large fraction of the work on blends has focused on methods to control and stabilize the morphology. One of the most successful techniques is the use of graft and block copolymers as polymeric compatibilizers, which is the subject of this book...”

Target Audience: Polymer chemists, materials scientists, and others concerned with the development of new polymer blends and the use of polymeric compatibilizers.

Table of Contents:

General Aspects of Compatibilization:

Introduction

Background

Principles of Compatibilization

Survey of Compatibilized Blends:

Polyolefin Blends

Styrenic Blends

ABS Type Blends

Polyester Blends

Polyamide Blends

Polyether Blends

Other Blends

Survey of Compatibilizers:

Polyethylenes and Ethylene Copolymers

Ethylene—Propylene Rubber Grafts

Polybutadiene Compatibilizers

Silicone Rubber Compatibilizers

Styrene Block Polymer Compatibilizers

Polypropylene and Higher Polyolefin Grafts

Compatibilizers of Carbonyl Backbone Polymers

Polyether Compatibilizers

Polystyrene and Styrene Copolymer Compatibilizers

ABS Compatibilizers

Index