Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)(PTT) was melt-blended with ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers(EVA) with the aim of enhancing toughness and plasticity of PTT.However

these two polymers were found to be thermodynamically immiscible and the formed blends showed deteriorated mechanical properties.The multi-walled carbon nanotubes(CNT) were thereby used to improve the phase morphology and adhesion of the PTT/EVA blend.The phase structures and rheology as well as mechanical properties were investigated by using scanning electron microscope(SEM)

transmission electron microscope(TEM)

contact angle measuring device and rotational rheometer respectively.A special selective localization of CNT could be observed on the ternary PTT/EVA /CNT composites.The CNT are selectively dispersed in the matrix PTT phase and the interface between two phases.This is due to the lower viscosity of PTT and its better affinity to CNT than those of the EVA.Thus

the CNT is more readily to be embedded by the PTT but not EVA during melt processing and finally

to be dispersed in the PTT phase and the interface.As a result of such selective localization

the size of EVA phase domains is reduced and the phase adhesion of the ternary composites is improved remarkably in contrast to those of the binary PTT/EVA blend.Therefore

the modulus and the plasticity of composites were enhanced.The CNT are believed to act as the compatibilizer and the plasticizer in the immiscible PTT/EVA blend.