CROSSLINKING AND COMPATIBILIZATION IN BLENDS OF POLYSTYRENE AND POLYETHYLENE

This paper investigated the influences of butadiene rubber (BR) and dicumylperoxide (DCP) on thermal and rheological behaviour, morphology and mechanical proper-ties of PS/LLDPE/SBS blend. Addition of DCP alone was found to decrease the mechanicalproperties of PS/LLDPE/SBS blend due to the decomposition of PS. When BR was addedtogether with DCP, it is found that the co-crosslinking of BR, SBS and PE takes place,and the decomposition of PS is reduced simultaneously because of the consumption of thefree radicals in the crosslinking process. Synergism was thus realised which resulted in theimprovement of the ductility of blend.