Investigating poly-(vinyl-chloride)-polyethylene blends by thermal methods

Poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC)-polyethylene (PE) alloys were prepared by melt blending using both low- and high-density polyethylene without applying a compatibilizer. The PVC and the PE are incompatible polymers; in spite of this fact stable microheterogeneous materials were obtained. Mechanical methods e.g. tensile tests generally (measured in the usual concentration range) do not support any compatibility. At higher concentrations, the incompatible parts mask the effect of molecular mixing, easily detected at low PE contents. Dynamic mechanical (DMA), differential scanning calorimetric tests were carried out. Glass transition temperatures were determined by both methods. DMA tests were made at four frequencies, and the energy of activation of PVC main transition was also calculated. The decrease of glass-transition temperatures and energy of activation show that there is a slight mixing of the polymers. Specimens were also investigated by infrared method. From the results of IR spectra, grafting reaction of PE can be assumed onto the PVC because of its dehydrochlorination.