Miscibility and processibility in linear low density polyethylene and ethylene-propylene-butene-1 terpolymer binary blends

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Blends of linear low density polyethylene (ethylene-octene-1 copolymer) and ethylene-propylene-butene-1 terpolymer (ter-PP) mixed in a twin-screw extruder have been characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rheometric mechanical spectrometry, a capillary rheometer, and a universal test machine. Melting and crystallization behaviors by DSC and the α, β, and γ dynamic mechanical relaxations proposed that the blend is immiscible in the amorphous and crystalline phases by observing the characteristic peaks arised solely from those of the constituents. The lack of interfacial interaction between the components was suggested by the SEM study. A strong negative deviation of melt viscosity from the additive rule and the Cole-Cole plot confirmed the immiscibility in melt state. Incorporation of ter-PP induced a reduction in melt viscosity, shear stress, and final load. Flexural modulus and yield stress were linearly increased with ter-PP content, while the tensile strength and elongation at break were more or less changed. Although this blend system is immiscible in the solid and melt states, addition of less than 20 wt % ter-PP in the blend is viable for engineering applications with the advantages of improved processibility and mechanical properties. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 63: 1265–1274, 1997