Processability and properties of novel glass-polymer melt blends

Joshua U. Otaigbe, Candace J. Quinn, and George H. Beall

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Iowa State University,

Ames, IA USA

Abstract

Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to study the viscoelastic properties of two novel highly filled phosphate glass-polymer melt blends to accelerate efforts to optimize their melt processing. The melt of one blend was thermally stable while that of the other blend was not as evidenced by modulus growth over time of the latter. The frequency dependencies of storage and loss moduli for both blends at 400 ° C showed evidence of incomplete relaxation. Recrystallization, transesterification of the polymer phase or interactions between the polymer and glass are thought to be responsible for the observed differences between the viscoelastic properties of the two blends.