Dispersion of the Thermodynamically Immiscible Polypropylene and Ethylene—Propylene Triple Synthetic Rubber Polymer Blends Using Supercritical SEDS Process: Effect of Operating Parameters

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of dispersion of thermodynamically immiscible polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-propylene triple synthetic rubber (EPTSR) polymer blends using the Solution-Enhanced Dispersion by Supercritical Fluid (SEDS) technique at operation conditions in the pressure range of (8 to 25) MPa and at temperatures t = 40 °C and 60 °C. The kinetics of crystallization and phase transformation in polymer blends obtained by conventional method (melt blending) and by mixing in the SEDS process have been studied using the DSC technique. The effects of the SEDS operation process on the physical—chemical (melting temperature, heat of fusion) and mechanical (microparticle size) characteristics of the SEDS-produced polymer blends were studied.

Keywords

• heat of fusion
• kinetic of crystallization
• microparticle size
• operating parameters
• polymer blends
• supercritical fluids