The effect of compatibilizers on the crystallisation, melting and polymorphic composition of β-nucleated isotactic polypropylene and polyamide 6 blends

Non-compatibilized and compatibilized blends of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and polyamide 6 (iPP/PA6) as well as their β-nucleated versions were prepared using maleic anhydride functionalized iPP (MAPP) with different anhydride contents as compatibilizer. Ca-suberate, a highly efficient and selective β-nucleating agent was added to the blends in order to promote the formation of the β-modification of iPP. The melting and crystallisation characteristics, as well as the polymorphic composition of the blends were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The supermolecular and phase structure of the blends were studied by polarised light microscopy (PLM). iPP and PA6 form blends with heterogeneous phase structure; the PA6 component is dispersed in the iPP matrix in the concentration range studied. The compatibilizer promotes the dispersion of PA6 resulting in smaller particles than without MAPP. In the non-compatibilized β-nucleated blends, an iPP matrix consisting mainly of the α-modification was formed already at low PA6 content. On the contrary, predominantly β-iPP matrix developed in the presence of MAPP compatibilizers. The formation of α-iPP matrix in the absence of compatibilizer is related to the selective encapsulation of the nucleating agent in the polar PA6 phase. The influence of the blending technique on the polymorphic composition of the matrix supports the hypothesis of selective encapsulation. Compatibilizers, besides their traditional benefits assist the distribution of the β-nucleating agent between both phases of the blends and promote the formation of a matrix rich in β-iPP. In the presence of β-nucleating agent MAPP with low anhydride content and blends of iPP containing maleated polypropylene crystallise predominantly in the β-form.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of immiscible polymer systems with and without compatibilizer

Blends of polyamide12 (PA12) and isotactic polypropylene (PP) were prepared by melt mixing, in an internal mixer, in the presence and absence of compatibiliser. The compatibiliser used was maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP-g-MA). The dynamic mechanical properties of the blends with and without compatibiliser were studied. Although compatibilization shifted the glass transition temperatures (T_g's) of component polymers only marginally, it significantly enhanced the storage modulus of the blends. The storage moduli of the uncompatibilised blends were compared with those predicted by theoretical models. Correlation between the dynamic mechanical properties of both compatibilised and uncompatibilised blends and their phase morphology was made.     

Effect of maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene-propylene rubber on the mechanical, rheological and morphological properties of organoclay reinforced polyamide 6/polypropylene nanocomposites

Polyamide 6/polypropylene (PA6/PP = 70/30 parts) blends containing 4 phr (parts per hundred resin) of organophilic modified montmorillonite (organoclay) were compatibilized with maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene-propylene rubber (EPRgMA). The blends were melt compounded in twin screw extruder followed by injection molding. The mechanical properties of PA6/PP nanocomposites were studied by tensile and flexural tests. The microstructure of the nanocomposite were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The dynamic mechanical properties of the PA6/PP blend-based nanocomposites were analyzed by using a dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA). The rheological properties were conducted from plate/plate rheometry via dynamic frequency sweep scans. The melt viscosity in a high shear rate region was performed by using a capillary rheometer. The strength and stiffness of the PA6/PP-based nanocomposites were improved significantly with the incorporation of EPRgMA. Adding EPRgMA to the PA6/PP blends resulted in a finer dispersion of the PP phase. TEM and XRD results revealed that the organoclay was dispersed more homogeneously in the presence of EPRgMA, however, mostly in the PA6 phase of the blends. DMTA results showed that EPRgMA worked as an effective compatibilizer. The storage (G′) and loss moduli (G″) assessed by plate/plate rheometry of PA6/PP blends increased with the incorporation of EPRgMA and organoclay. Furthermore, the apparent shear viscosity of the PA6/PP blend increased significantly for the EPRgMA compatibilized PA6/PP/organoclay nanocomposite. This was traced to the formation of an interphase between PA6 and PP (via PA6-g-EPR) and effective intercalation/exfoliation of the organoclay.     

Morphology development of immiscible polymer blends during melt blending: Effects of interfacial agents on the liquid-solid interfacial heat transfer

This article reports on a new phenomenon: The presence of a compatibilizer accelerates the melting/plastification of an immiscible polymer blend during melt blending. The increase in the rate of melting as a result of the addition of a compatibilizer is believed to be one of the important factors responsible for the fact that the morphology of compatibilized blends develops much faster than that of their uncompatibilized counterparts. To substantiate the above statement, blends based on polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6) were used as model systems. The compatibilizer was a graft copolymer (PP-g-PA6) with PP as the backbone and PA6 as grafts. Its presence in a PP/PA6 blend accelerated the rate of melting of the PA6. This effect was observed only when the compatibilizer itself was molten and migrated to the interfacial layer between the PA6 and PP phases. It is likely that the presence of the compatibilizer increased the chain entanglements at the PP and PA6 interface and consequently reduced the thermal resistance of the interfacial layer. Detailed mechanisms are discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3368–3384, 1999     

POE-g-PMAH反应性增容PA1010/PP共混物的性能研究

乙烯-辛烯共聚物-g-聚马来酸酐(POE-g-PMAH)作为反应性增容剂,采用熔体共混的方法制备了PA1010/PP共混物,通过扫描电镜(SEM)、力学性能、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和示差扫描量热(DSC)测试,研究了POE-g-PMAH对PA1010/PP共混物的增容作用.结果表明,POE-g-PMAH的加入可以减小共混物的相区尺寸,当PA1010/PP/POE-g-PMAH=70/30/15时,分散相尺寸小而均匀;FTIR结果表明接枝在POE上的马来酸酐基团和PA1010在熔融共混期间发生了化学反应;DSC研究结果表明共混体系中PA1010和PP的结晶温度和结晶度随POE-g-PMAH的加入而降低,表明POE-g-PMAH的增容作用对PA1010和PP的结晶有抑制作用.力学性能测试结果表明随着POE-g-PMAH的增加,共混物的冲击强度逐渐增加,当POE-g-PMAH含量增加到15%时,干态冲击强度达到21.13 kJ/m2,是不加增容剂的3.1倍,而拉伸和弯曲强度可以保持较高水平.POE-g-PMAH的增容机理在于其支链中的马来酸酐能与PA1010中的胺基(NH2—)发生化学反应,而主链POE与PP有较好的亲和性,从而降低界面张力,减少相区尺寸,大幅度提高力学性能.     

Morphology and properties of isotactic polypropylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) in situ microfibrillar reinforced blends: Influence of viscosity ratio

In situ microfibrillar reinforced blends based on blends of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were successfully prepared by a “slit extrusion-hot stretching-quenching” process. Four types of iPP with different apparent viscosity were utilized to investigate the effect of viscosity ratio on the morphology and mechanical properties of PET/iPP microfibrillar blend. The morphological observation shows that the viscosity ratio is closely associated to the size of dispersed phase droplets in the original blends, and accordingly greatly affects the microfibrillation of PET. Lower viscosity ratio is favorable to formation of smaller and more uniform dispersed phase particles, thus leading to finer microfibrils with narrower diameter distribution. Addition of a compatibilizer, poly propylene-grafted-glycidyl methacrylate (PP-g-GMA), can increase the viscosity ratio and decrease the interfacial tension between PET and iPP, which tends to decrease the size of PET phase in the unstretched blends. After stretched, the aspect ratio of PET microfibrils in the compatibilized blends is considerably reduced compared to the uncompatibilized ones. The lower viscosity ratio brought out higher mechanical properties of the microfibrillar blends. Compared to the uncompatibilized microfibrillar blends, the tensile, flexural strength and impact toughness of the compatibilized ones are all improved.     

滑石粉及混炼顺序对PA6/PP/MAPP合金相形态及力学性能的影响

通过挤出和注射成型制备了滑石粉(Talc)填充的尼龙6/聚丙烯/马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯(PA6/PP/MAPP)合金, 研究了Talc和混炼顺序(一步法和PA6母料法)对合金相形态和力学性能的影响. 场发射扫描电镜(FESEM)分析结果表明, 添加Talc后注射样条中心部分的PP相由球状转变为沿流动方向取向的有分支的条状结构, 且用PA6母料法制样比用一步法制样的相形态更为精细. 溶解PA6相后对PP相进行热重分析(TGA), 确定了Talc在PA6相和PP相中的分布比例, Talc选择性分布于PA6相中. PA6母料法中Talc的分散好于一步法. 研究了材料的拉伸、 弯曲、 冲击、 热变形温度和动态力学性能, Talc的添加能够明显提高材料的刚性, 且母料法样品的性能优于一步法样品.     

A study of PP/PET composites: Factorial design,mechanical and thermal properties

Due to the economic importance of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the large amount of composites made with PP matrix and recycled PET as reinforcing material; an investigation was performed regarding the mechanical and thermal behavior of PP composites containing recycled polyethylene terephthalate fibers (rPET). Interfacial adhesion between the two materials was achieved by adding a compatibilizer, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene, PP-g-MA. Mechanical behavior was assessed by tensile, flexural, impact and fatigue tests, and thermal behavior by HDT (Heat Deflection Temperature). Fractured surfaces and fiber were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Multiple regression statistical analysis was performed to interpret interaction effects of the variables. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus and HDT increased after rPET fiber incorporation while strain at break, impact strength and fatigue life decreased. Addition of compatibilizer increased tensile strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus, fatigue life and HDT while tensile modulus, strain at break and impact strength decreased. However, at low fiber content, the impact strength increased, probably due to nucleation effects on PP.     

Novel elastomeric polyurethane fibers modified with polypropylene microfibers

Extrusion of immiscible polymer biphasic blends to form in situ microfibers of the minor component in the matrix of the major component is an elegant way to create composites with new properties. The process was used to obtain thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers modified with polypropylene microfibers. The effect of phase interaction on blend morphology and properties was studied by running a series of blends with and without a maleated polypropylene compatibilizer. Six different blends were prepared: three with compatibilizer and three without the compatibilizer. All blends contained polypropylene as a minor component (80/20; 90/10 and 95/5). Extrusion spinning of polyurethane/polypropylene blends with and without compatibilizer resulted in polyurethane fibers modified with highly-oriented polypropylene microfibrils at all component ratios. Increasing polypropylene concentration in the thermoplastic polyurethane matrix increased hardness and modulus, but did not affect tensile strength and lowered elastic recovery.     

Maleic Anhydride Polyethylene Octene Elastomer Toughened Polyamide 6/Polypropylene Nanocomposites: Mechanical and Morphological Properties

A series of polyamide 6/polypropylene (PA6/PP) blends and nanocomposites containing 4 wt% of organophilic modified montmorillonite (MMT) were designed and prepared by melt compounding followed by injection molding. Maleic anhydride polyethylene octene elastomer (POEgMAH) was used as impact modifier as well as compatibilizer in the blend system. Three weight ratios of PA6/PP blends were prepared i.e. 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40. The mechanical properties of PA6/PP blends and nanocomposite were studied through flexural and impact properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the microstructure. The incorporation of 10 wt% POEgMAH into PA6/PP blends significantly increased the toughness with a corresponding reduction in strength and stiffness. However, on further addition of 4 wt% organoclay, the strength and modulus increased but with a sacrifice in impact strength. It was also found that the mechanical properties are a function of blend ratio with 70:30 PA6/PP having the highest impact strength, both for blends and nanocomposites. The morphological study revealed that within the blend ratio studied, the higher the PA6 content, the finer were the POEgMAH particles.     

Thermal degradation and crystallisation studies of reactively compatibilised polymer blends

The thermal degradation and crystallisation behaviours of polyamide12/isotactic polypropylene (PA12/PP) blends were studied. Effects of blend ratio and compatibiliser concentration on the thermal degradation properties of the blends were analysed. The activation energy for degradation in compatibilised and uncompatibilised blends computed using Horowitz-Metzger equation was reported. The blend ratio as well as the presence of compatibiliser has significant effect on the thermal stability of the blends. Phase morphology was found to be one of the decisive factors that affected the thermal stability of both uncompatibilised and compatibilised blends. Melting and crystallisation behaviours of the blends in the presence and absence of compatibiliser were evaluated. It was observed that blending has no significant effect on the melting and crystallisation properties of PA12 and PP. Compatibilisation of 70/30 and 50/50 PA12/PP blends didn't affect the crystallisation and melting behaviours of PA12 and PP even though some discrepancies were observed.     

Reactive blending of polypropylene/polyamide-6 in the presence of tailor-made succinic anhydride-terminated oligopropene compatibilizers

Various anhydride-terminated isotactic and atactic oligopropenes of number average molecular weights ranging between 1,000 and 10,000 g/mole, prepared by maleinating vinylidene-terminated propene oligomers obtained with isospecific and nonstereospecific metallocene-based Ziegler–Natta catalysts, have been evaluated as blend compatibilizers of polypropylene/polyamide-6 (70 vol%/30 vol%) blends to study the role of blend compatibilizer molecular architecture. When added during processing, as shown by IR spectroscopic analysis, the anhydride-terminated oligopropenes react with the amine-terminated polyamide-6 to yield polypropylene-block-polyamide-6 in situ. Such block copolymers are efficient dispersing agents. While the polyamide dispersion in the polypropylene continuous phase is not affected by blend compatibilizer stereoregularities, both stiffness and yield stress as well as notched Charpy impact strength increase with increasing stereoregularities and molecular weights. With oligopropene molecular weights exceeding 1,150 g/mole, the average size of the dispersed polyamide microphases correlates with the volume fraction of the oligopropene-block-polyamide-6 blend compatibilizer and the dicarboxylic acid anhydride/amine molar ratio.     

Unexpectedly high young's moduli recorded for iPP/HDPE blends

Young's moduli of a series of quenched isotactic polypropylene/high‐density polyethylene blends were measured. The moduli of many of the blends exceeded the upper bound, calculated from the parallel model with the moduli of the two quenched homopolymers as those of the two components. In fact, both components crystallized at higher temperatures in the blends than they did on their own. It is argued that the higher crystallization temperatures of the components lead to higher component moduli and that this can explain the observation that the measured moduli of the blends apparently exceeded the upper bound. The implications of this work are discussed in light of other studies concerning the measurement and calculation of blend moduli. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1404–1414, 2001     

Thermogravimetric and wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis of thermoplastic elastomers from nylon copolymer and EPDM rubber

Nylon copolymer (PA6, 66) and ethylene propylene diene (EPDM) blends with and without compatibilizer were prepared by melt mixing using Brabender Plasticorder. The thermal stability of nylon copolymer (PA6, 66)/ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) blends was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The morphology of the blends was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In this work, the effects of blend ratio and compatibilisation on thermal stability and crystallinity were investigated. The incorporation of EPDM rubber was found to improve the thermal stability of nylon copolymer. The kinetic parameters of the degradation process were also studied. A good correlation was observed between the thermal properties and phase morphology of the blends. By applying Coats and Redfern method, the activation energies of various blends were derived from the Thermogravimetric curves. The compatibilization of the blends using EPM-g-MA has increased the degradation temperature and decreased the weight loss. EPM-g-MA is an effective compatibilizer as it increases the decomposition temperature and thermal stability of the blends. Crystallinity of various systems has been studied using wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). The addition of EPDM decreases the crystallinity of the blend systems.     

On the compatibility of the IPP/PA6/EPDM blends with and without functionalized IPP I. Thermo-oxidative behaviour

Binary isotactic polypropylene (IPP)/polyamide 6 (PA6) and ternary IPP/PA6/ethylene–propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) blends in various ratios were obtained in a Haake Rheocord mixer. Processing behaviour was changed in the presence of IPP functionalized with bismaleimide (BMI), maleic anhydride (MA) and acrylic acid (AA) as reactive compatibilizing agents. The thermal and thermo-oxidative behaviour of blends was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. The functionalized IPPs modify the crystallinity degree and the decomposition behaviour of both IPP and PA6 as a result of chemical reactions of functional groups with those of the PA6. The changes depend on the IPP/PA6 or IPP/PA6/EPDM ratio, the chemical nature and amount of the functionalized IPP. On the basis of the processing and thermal data one can conclude that the compatibilizing agent effect increases in the following order: IPP-AA 相似文献   

Compatibilization of polypropylene/poly(glycolic acid) blend with maleated poe/attapulgite hybrid compatibilizer: Evaluation of mechanical,thermal, rheological,and morphological characteristics

In this work, the compatibilization effects of hybrid maleated POE/attapulgite hybrid compatibilizer (M-POE/ATP) on the immiscible polypropylene/poly(glycolic acid) (PP/PGA) blends was investigated. The hybrid compatibilizer integrating strengthening, toughening and compatibilization functions was prepared via one-step reactive extrusion using peroxidated ATP as the initiator. Then, the effects of compatibilizer dosage on the mechanical, thermal, rheological and morphological characteristics of blends were evaluated in detail. It was found that the hybrid compatibilizer resulted in the significantly enhanced compatibility and mechanical performance. Increased amount of compatibilizer content fractionated and almost wholly suppressed the crystallization process of PGA. The compatibilized blends showed higher thermal stability than pure PGA, and lower storage modulus and complex viscosity at higher shearing frequency. PGA in the blends presented a much lower degradation rate, which lead to the higher strength retention of 81% for the blend with 4 wt% of compatibilizer in buffer solution after 35 days.     

离子聚合物在Nylon－1010／PP共混物中的增容作用

离子聚合物在Ｎｙｌｏｎ－１０１０／ＰＰ共混物中的增容作用曲桂杰，刘景江（中国科学院长春应用化学研究所长春１３００２２）关键词聚丙烯，Ｎｙｌｏｎ－１０１０，离子聚合物，增容选择离子聚合物作为高聚物共混的增容剂，通过离子间的相互作用可达到增容效果［１］。...     

SMA、OMMT对PA6/ABS共混物聚集态结构及性能影响的研究

采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)等手段研究了苯乙烯-马来酸酐共聚物(SMA)、有机蒙脱土(OMMT)对尼龙6(PA6)/丙烯腈-丁二烯-苯乙烯(ABS)共混物体系聚集态结构及性能的影响.结果表明,SMA与OMMT的加入均可提高PA6/ABS共混物体系的强度及模量,但加入OMMT后共混物的韧性有所下降,而PA6/ABS/SMA共混物的韧性随SMA含量的增加呈上升趋势.SMA、OMMT对PA6/ABS共混体系都有细化ABS分散相的作用,随SMA加入量的增加,ABS分散相尺寸逐渐减小,分布趋于均匀;当OMMT加入量在4 phr以内时,对ABS分散相粒径影响不大,超过4 phr后,随着OMMT含量的增加,ABS分散相的尺寸逐渐减小.XRD与TEM的分析结果表明,对PA6/OMMT(100/5)共混物,OMMT主要以剥离形态分布,同时也存在少量OMMT聚集体;PA6/ABS/OMMT共混物中OMMT则基本以剥离形态选择分布在PA6基体相中.     

Improved Compatibility of Blends between Recycled Polypropylene and Polyamide 6 by the Products of Degradation

The compatibilization of recycled polypropylene in blends with polyamide 6 prepared via twin screw extruder was investigated. Reactive compatibilization between the recycled polypropylene and polyamide 6 was studied by “Molau test” and FTIR, the results showed the formation of copolymers during blending. Morphology analysis revealed the diameter of recycled polypropylene dispersed in polyamide 6 matrix decreased markedly and the boundary was obscure compared with the uncompatibilized blends by scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, enhanced interfacial adhesion between the blends components was also investigated by the tensile behavior and dynamical mechanical analysis.     

PP/PP-g-MAH/PA6共混物结构与可纺性研究

运用DSC、SEM、纺丝成形等手段研究了增容剂聚丙烯接枝马来酸酐 (PP g MAH)对聚丙烯 聚酰胺 6(PP PA6 )共混物结构和性能的影响 .结果表明 ,共混物呈典型海岛型两相结构 ;增容剂PP g MAH与PA6之间的在位反应改善了PP PA6共混体系的相容性 ,使共混物中PA6的热结晶峰消失 ,PP的结晶生长速率和成核速率降低 ,可纺性提高