Abstract
In this study, the morphology, rheological behavior, thermal behavior, and mechanical properties of a polyamide 6 (PA6) and olefin block copolymer (OBC) blend compatibilized with maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene-octene copolymer (POE-g-MAH) were investigated. The morphological observations showed that the addition of POE-g-MAH enhanced the OBC particle dispersion in the PA6 matrix, suggesting a better interfacial compatibility between the pure PA6 and OBC. The results of the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis and the Molau test confirmed the compatibilization reactions between POE-g-MAH and PA6. The rheological test revealed that the melt viscosity, storage modulus (G’), and loss modulus (G”) of the compatibilized PA6/OBC blends at low frequency were increased with the increasing POE-g-MAH content. The thermal analysis indicated that the addition of OBC had little effect on the crystallization behavior of PA6, while the incorporation of POE-g-MAH at high content (7 wt%) in the PA6/OBC blend restricted the crystallization of PA6. In addition, the compatibilized blends exhibited a significant enhancement in impact strength compared to the uncompatibilized PA6/OBC blend, in which the highest value of impact strength obtained at a POE-g-MAH content of 7 wt% was about 194% higher than that of pure PA6 under our experimental conditions.
Highlights
Polymer blending modification is a widely used method to obtain materials with improved properties [1,2,3]
The results indicate that the compatibility of the Polyamide 6 (PA6)/olefin block copolymer (OBC) blend was greatly improved by the incorporation toughening effect of maleic anhydride functionalized elastomer particles has been reported by of POE-g-MAH
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation indicated that the addition of 7 wt% POE-g-MAH to the PA6/OBC blend enhanced the dispersion of the OBC particles in the PA6 matrix with a blurred phase interface, suggesting a better interfacial compatibility between the pure PA6 and the OBC, which was consistent with the results of the rheological analysis
Summary
Polymer blending modification is a widely used method to obtain materials with improved properties [1,2,3]. The functional group of the modified flexible polymer and compatibilizer, which is usually maleic anhydride or an epoxy group, can react with the amine groups of PA6 to form a graft copolymer, which can improve the compatibility between the PA6 matrix and the dispersed phase and obtain the desired properties of the blends [21,22,23,24]. The influence of a POE-g-MAH compatibilizer on the morphology, rheological behavior, thermal behavior, and mechanical properties of PA6/OBC blends was determined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rheometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tensile, flexural, and notched Charpy impact tests, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis and the Molau test were carried out to explore the possible chemical interactions between the PA6 matrix and POE-g-MAH
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
