A Practical Guide to Polymeric Compatibilizers for Polymer Blends,

Composites and Laminates.

Jozef Bicerano, Ph.D.

Introduction
Fundamental Considerations
Overveiw of Available Compatibilization Technologies
Representative Examples of Vendors and their Technologies
Technology Outlook
Introduction
The development of polymer blends, composites and laminates is a very active area of
science and technology; of great economic importance not only for the plastics industry but
also for many other industries where the use of such products is becoming increasingly more
common.
Most pairs of polymers are immiscible with each other. Even worse is the fact that they also
have less compatibility than would be required in order to obtain the desired level of
properties and performance from their blends. Compatibilizers are often used as additives to
improve the compatibility of immiscible polymers and thus improve the morphology and
resulting properties of the blend. Similarly, it is often challenging to disperse fillers effectively
in the matrix polymer of a composite, or to adhere layers of polymers to each other or to other
substrates (such as glass or metals) in laminates. Continued progress in the development of
compatibilization technologies is, hence, crucial in enabling the polymer industry to reap the
full benefits of such approaches to obtaining materials with optimum performance and cost
characteristics.

Term

Definition

Additive

Substance added to a polymer.

Adhesion

Holding together of two bodies by interfacial forces or mechanical

interlocking on a scale of micrometers or less.

Adhesion promoter

See Coupling agent.

Chemical adhesion

Adhesion in which two bodies are held together at an interface by ionic

or covalent bonding between molecules on either side of the interface.

Compatibility

Capability of the individual component substances in either an

immiscible polymer blend or a polymer composite to exhibit interfacial
adhesion.

Compatibilization

Process of modification of the interfacial properties in an immiscible

polymer blend that results in formation of the interphases and
stabilization of the morphology, leading to the creation of a polymer
alloy.

Compatibilizer

Polymer or copolymer that, when added to an immiscible polymer

blend, modifies its interfacial character and stabilizes its morphology.

Compatible polymer blend Immiscible polymer blend that exhibits macroscopically uniform physical
properties throughout its whole volume.
Composite

Multicomponent material comprising multiple different (nongaseous)