Electron-induced reactive processing of polyamide 6/polypropylene blends: Morphology and properties

Abstract

Electron-induced reactive processing (EIReP) recently has appeared as an advanced processing technology to modify several polymer compounds at melt state by its spatial and temporal precise energy input. In the present work, an attempt was made to prepare a compatible blend from polar polyamide 6 (PA6) and non-polar polypropylene (PP) using EIReP without any chemical crosslinking and chemical additives. EIReP modified blends were prepared at different doses (5, 10 and 20 kGy) and dose per revolutions (3, 6 and 12 kGy/rev) while keeping constant the values of mass ratio (PA6/PP 50/50 w/w), electron energy (1.5 MeV), rotor speed (60 rpm) and temperature (230 °C). EIReP process parameters-morphology-property relationship of this blend was studied. Interestingly, co-continuous morphology of the blend was converted to droplet-matrix morphology after EIReP whether PA6 was continuous phase. Influence of dose and dose per revolution on the DMT modulus (Derjaguin-Muller-Toporov) at different phases of the blends was also measured and analyzed using advanced PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping atomic force microscopy (PF QNM AFM) technique. Improved nano- and macroscopic properties of EIReP modified blends were originated from the properties of the continuous matrix phase, electron-induced branching and also from the reduction of domain size of PP phase with increased dose.