Charge Distributions in PC/SAN/PCL Polymer Blends

The formation of space charge in polycarbonate (PC)/poly (styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) blends containing poly (∊-caprolactone) (PCL) as a compatibilizer for improving the miscibility, has been studied by measuring spatial charge distributions. It is found that the miscibility of PC/SAN blends is improved as the PCL content increases. The amount of charge accumulated in the blends decreases when the PCL content increases to 15% by weight and then increases when the PCL content is > 15% wt. The decrease of charge at the PCL content < 15% wt was attributed to the combined effects of changes in conductivities and the molecular interactions at the domain interfaces. The increase of charge at the PCL content > 15% wt was attributed to the trapping of charge at the amorphous and crystalline phases of PC and PCL.