| Polyethylene oxide (PEO) has been widely studied in these last decades for its many interesting properties. For such processes as lamination, film casting, film blowing, the shear and the elongational rheological properties of the polymer are very important.; The aim of this project was to improve the processability of polyethylene oxide, without affecting its mechanical and electrical properties. From a rheological point of view the main goal was to increase its melt elasticity (G'/G″).; Pure PEO was blended with small percentages of two block copolymers, SBM (styrene-butadiene-methylmethacrylate) and MAM (methylmethacrylate-butylacrylate-methylmetacrylate). Five grades of SBM and two grades of MAM, different in the size of the blocks and in the molecular weight, were investigated. Blends were obtained by two different methods: melt processing and solution casting technique. We compared the two methods and looked for the optimum conditions that would most improve the rheological properties. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
