Present and Future Trends in Polymer Blends Technology

The plastics industry shows the highest growth rate of all industrial materials. Within this group the engineering resins (ER) are developing fastest. The review focuses on polymer alloys and blends (PAB) of ER. After the discussion of the economic aspect of PAB the patent literature is briefly reviewed and illustrated by a summary of selected, recent patents on polyphenylene ether blends. There is little doubt that the future trend in PAB technology will require control of morphology, especially in most common multiphase systems. For this reason the last part of the article summarizes the available information of criteria for rheological and thermodynamic control of morphology. The review ends with a brief description of the methods and equipment used by industry to compound and form the PAB.