POLYCARBONATE ACRYLONITRILE-BUTADIENE-STYRENE BLENDS .1. COMPLEMENTARY ETCHING TECHNIQUES FOR MORPHOLOGY OBSERVATIONS

Blends of bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) were prepared in a Brabender-like apparatus and compression moulded in a press. Specimen surfaces, smoothed by a microtome, were etched by two different agents: (1) an aqueous solution of NaOH capable of hydrolysing the PC alone; (2) an aqueous solution of acids capable of oxidizing the ABS alone. The simultaneous utilization of both methods yielded complementary information on the blend morphology.