The morphology of polymer blends is important as it ultimately
determines most of its properties, such as mechanical
properties. In this study, the morphology of the samples was
observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fig. 2 shows the
fracture surface micrographs of TPS/PE-MAH, TPS/PE-MAH/CTS1,
TPS/PE-MAH/CTS5 and TPS/PE-MAH/CTS10, after selective extraction
of unbound TPS near the surface of the fracture by hot-water.
The major component of the blend usually forms the matrix, in
which the minor component(s) are dispersed. The TPS/PE-MAH
(70/30) blend showed a co-continuous morphology (Fig. 2 (a)).
The TPS/PE-MAH/CTS1 blend showed particles of PE-MAH approximately
2–4 m. The addition of CTS at 5 wt% and 10 wt% decreased
the PE-MAH particle size to 1 m dimension. Based on the phase
determination measurements and SEM images, it was confirmed
that the TPS/PE-MAH formed a co-continuous morphology and
phase inversion occurred with the addition of CTS to give PE-MAH
particles dispersed in a TPS matrix morphology. It is suggested that
the phase inversion and decreased particle size of PE-MAH by CTS
resulted from an interfacial reaction between TPS and PE-MAH.