The Study of Reactively Compatibilized mPPO/PP Blend Systems

Abstract

Polymer blends of commercial polyphenylene oxide (mPPO) and polypropylene (PP) are immiscible and incompatible in blend system. Maleic anhydride-grafted-copolymer has been employed as in situ compatibilizer for the mPPO and PP blends. This copolymer contains reactive anhydride functional groups that were able to react with mPPO at ‒CH3 side methyl groups ‒OH terminal groups under the melt conditions. The PP-g-MA copolymer reduces the interfacial tension between the two polymers and act as a bridge between them to make compatible. The blends have been characterized using FTIR, SEM, and its mechanical behavior.