Abstract
Deformation behavior of compatible polymer blends was studied using scanning electron, optical, and transmission electron microscopies. Four different compatible systems were employed and charaterized in this investigation : polystyrene(PS) and polyphenylene oxide(PPO), polystyrene(PS) and polyvinlmethylether(PVME), polystyrene(PS) and poly $\alpha$-methylstyrene(P$\alpha$MS). Individual craze and shear deformation zone microstructures were examined by transmission microscopy (TEM). For TEM observations, specimens deformed in-situ on a TEM grid were utilized. Quantiative analysis of these crazes and shear deformation zones was obtained from the nicrodensitometry of the TEM negatives in the manner developed by Lauterwasser and Kramer. Microdensitometry resulys showed that the fibril extension ratio decreased as the PPO content increased in the PS/PPO blends, and finally, for 100% PPO, only shear deformation zones were observed. For the PS/PVME blends, the ribril extension ratio also decreased as the VME content increased. For the PS/P$\alpha$MS blends, the fibril extension ratio increased as the P$\alpha$MS content increased, For the PPO/P$\alpha$MS blends, the fibril extension ratio increased as the P$\alpha$MS content increased.