Rheology, structure, and properties of ethylene-vinyl acetate/metallocene-catalyzed ethylene-α-olefin copolymer blends

The rheology, morphology, thermal, mechanical, and adhesive properties of blends containing ethylene-vinyl acetate and metallocene-catalyzed ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, containing butene and octene comonomers, were investigated. On the basis of the thermal and rheological properties and scanning electron microscopy observations, we deduced that these blends were immiscible, both in the solid and melt states over the whole range of compositions. Rheological properties were correlated to blend morphology with the Palierne emulsion model. The butene-based blends had better mechanical properties, which was attributed to their finer morphology, lower interfacial tension, and better adhesive properties. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.