Stabilization of dispersed phase to static coarsening: Polymer blend compatibilization via solid-state shear pulverization

Immiscible blend compatibilization which may be obtained via a novel, continuous process called solid-state shear pulverization is demonstrated. By processing in the solid state rather than in the melt, pulverization eliminates the thermodynamic and kinetic stumbling blocks associated with conventional melt processing that often limit the efficiency and intimacy of mixing that can be achieved in immiscible polymer blends. In particular, the number-average dispersed-phase diameter, D_n, of copulverized blends is stable to long-term, high-temperature annealing while coalescence of the dispersed phase is present during annealing of blends processed by twin-screw extrusion.