Abstract
The effect on compatibility of the addition of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) oligomer to poly(ether ether ketone ketone) (PEEKK)/polv(p-phenylene sulphide) (PPS) blends has been investigated. Viscoelastic measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of PEEKK/PPS blends show that the blends are completely immiscible over the whole composition range. When PEEK oligomer (5-20 phr) is added to the PEEKK/PPS (40/60) blend as the third component, its compatibility and flexural properties are considerably improved. This result is consistent with SEM micrographs of the blends. IR spectral analysis of the blends suggests that PEEK oligomer does not react with either PPS or PEEKK. DSC data for PEEKK/PEEK oligomer (40/10) and PPS/PEEK oligomer (60/10) blends suggest that PEEK oligomer may act as a non-reactive compatibilizer for the PEEKK/PPS blend.