Abstract
This study proposes melt-blending polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) that have a similar melt flow index (MFI) to form PP/HDPE polyblends. The influence of the content of HDPE on the properties and compatibility of polyblends is examined by using a tensile test, flexural test, Izod impact test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM results show that PP and HDPE are incompatible polymers with PP being a continuous phase and HDPE being a dispersed phase. The FTIR results show that the combination of HDPE does not influence the chemical structure of PP, indicating that the polyblends are made of a physical blending. The DSC and XRD results show that PP and HDPE are not compatible, and the combination of HDPE is not correlated with the crystalline structure and stability of PP. The PLM results show that the combination of HDPE causes stacking and incompatibility between HDPE and PP spherulites, and PP thus has incomplete spherulite morphology and a smaller spherulite size. However, according to mechanical property test results, the combination of HDPE improves the impact strength of PP.
Highlights
Polyblends are a product by melt-blending or solvent-blending two or more polymers [1,2,3,4]
Jose et al combined PP and high density polyethylene (HDPE) that have a dramatic range of their melt flow index (MFI), and found a significant phase separation between these two materials that decreases the mechanical properties of the compounds [22]
Such a result indicates that the combination of HDPE does not influence the tensile strength
Summary
Polyblends are a product by melt-blending or solvent-blending two or more polymers [1,2,3,4]. This study uses HDPE, which has a similar structure to PP, ease of processing, low cost, and impact resistance, to improve the impact strength of PP. The compatibility of polyblends depends on the processing temperature, polymer structure, and blending ratios [20,21,22]. Jose et al combined PP and HDPE that have a dramatic range of their melt flow index (MFI), and found a significant phase separation between these two materials that decreases the mechanical properties of the compounds [22]. This study contributes a helpful manufacturing for combining HDPE and PP that have a similar melt flow index, and successfully decreases the phase separation between two materials, and thereby increases the compact strength of PP
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
