Addition Of Compatibilizer Research Articles

Recycled PP/EPDM/talc reinforced with bamboo fiber: Assessment of fiber and compatibilizer content on properties using factorial design

Thermoplastic composites reinforced with natural fibers have attracted the attention of many researchers, not only for environmental concerns, but also for economic reasons, recyclability, ease of processing, etc. One promising application is in the automotive industry due to their low cost and weight. This industry is increasingly pressured to produce vehicles that consume less fuel and are less polluting. Therefore, plastics reinforced with fibers are required to produce lighter parts to replace the much more abrasive glass fiber and mineral filled composites. One of the most widely used polymers in the automotive sector for manufacturing interior and exterior vehicle components is talc filled EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) toughened polypropylene (PP). In this context, the aim of this study was to assess mechanical and thermal properties of bamboo fiber reinforced recycled talc filled PP/EPDM composites compatibilized with maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH). Composites were prepared, according to a 22 factorial design with center point, in a Haake twin screw extruder with subsequent injection molding. Injected specimens were subjected to tensile, flexural, impact and fatigue testing. Morphological analyses were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal analyses by thermogravimetry (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Addition of bamboo fiber significantly increased tensile and bending strength, modulus and fatigue life, and decreased elongation at break and impact strength. On the other hand, addition of the compatibilizer had a positive effect only on tensile and flexural strength, and fatigue life whereas the effect was negative on elongation at break and impact strength. The addition of fiber and compatibilizer did not appreciably affect the matrix melting temperature, but slightly increased crystallization temperature and in some cases the degree of crystallinity.

Investigation of physical properties and morphology of compatibilized EPDM/EVA blends

The main aim is to investigate the effect of adding of 5% hydrolyzed poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVAOH), itaconic anhydride (naturally obtained during fermentation of sugars (It.anhydride)), and mercapto-modified ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVASH) as compatibilizers on the mechanical properties before and after thermal oxidative aging at 90°C for different time periods up to 7 days, electrical properties, and morphology of ethylene propylene diene monomer/ethylene vinyl acetate (EPDM/EVA) blends of different compositions (75/25, 60/40, 50/50, and 25/75, respectively). Stress at yield, tensile strength, and elongation at break of EPDM/EVA were improved markedly by the addition of 5% compatibilizers (EVAOH, It.anhydride, and EVASH). The micrographs of fractured surfaces obtained from the scanning electron microscope demonstrated further the enhancement of compatibility between EPDM and EVA by the addition of reactive compatibilizers. Further, the blends permittivity ε′ and dielectric loss ε″ have been measured at specific temperatures. The dielectric properties revealed that It.anhydride and EVASH/EPDM/EVA compositions are promising materials for insulation purposes. Finally, aging resistance was improved by the use of compatibilizers.

Core/shell morphologies in recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)/linear low-density polyethylene/poly(styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene) ternary blends

Compatibilizer plays very important roles in preparing high performance polymer composites, not only for the ternary immiscible polymer blends, but also for the recycled and reused of waste plastics mixture. Generally, the compatibilizers can be used as the toughening agent in blending polymer materials. In the present work, the poly(styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene) (SEBS) or maleic anhydride-grafted poly(styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene) (SEBS-g-MA) acts as the compatibilizer and toughening agent for the preparation of R-PET/LDPE/SEBS (70/20/10) ternary blends. It must be pointed that the ternary blends are costlessly and conveniently prepared from the recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (R-PET) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) through a melt blending in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder and injection moulded. The morphologies of the ternary blends are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the blends contains reactive or non-reactive compatibilizer, the morphology originates from the LLDPE particles encapsulated by both SEBS and SEBS-g-MA. So, it results to the reduced interfacial tension between of the R-PET and SEBS-g-MA, in which the grafted chains of PET-g-SEBS-g-MA formed through in situ reaction between R-PET and SEBS-g-MA phases. Therefore, core–shell particles with smaller diameter disperse uniformly in the blends. Moreover, the good compatibilization and corresponding morphologies induce in balanced mechanical and thermal properties. DSC analysis show the dispersed phase particles could act as nucleating agent in the R-PET matrix, which results the improvement of the crystallization temperature. And it was also observed the decreased nucleation activity in graft copolymers in the R-PET/LLDPE/SEBS-g-MA blends. Notched Charpy impact strength and elongation at break are improved by the addition of compatibilizer.

Preparation and Characterization of Extruded Composites Based on Polypropylene and Chitosan Compatibilized with Polypropylene-Graft-Maleic Anhydride.

The preparation of composites of synthetic and natural polymers represent an interesting option to combine properties; in this manner, polypropylene and chitosan extruded films using a different proportion of components and polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) as compatibilizer were prepared. The effect of the content of the biopolymer in the polypropylene (PP) matrix, the addition of compatibilizer, and the particle size on the properties of the composites was analyzed using characterization by fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile strength, and contact angle, finding that in general, the addition of the compatibilizer and reducing the particle size of the chitosan, favored the physicochemical and morphological properties of the films.

Balance the electrical properties and mechanical properties of carbon black filled immiscible polymer blends with a double percolation structure

It has been widely reported that construction of a double percolation structure in the conductive polymer composites (CPCs) can effectively reduce the percolation thresholds of the composites. However, the mechanical properties of these types of CPCs are normally inferior because of the weak interfacial interactions between the immiscible polymer blends. In the current study, we constructed a perfect double percolation structure in the CB/PS/PP composites at PS/PP weight ratio of 60w/40w to reduce the percolation threshold and introduced the fourth component, i.e. styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer, as the compatibilizer to improve the mechanical properties. Although the mechanical properties are significantly improved after the addition of SEBS, the electrical conductivity shows a remarkable decline when SEBS content is higher than 3 wt%. This is because that the addition of compatibilizer into a co-continuous immiscible polymer blend will reduce the sizes of the phase domains, thereby causing a damage of phase continuity of the double percolation structure. However, it is found that the electrical properties can be still superior because of the maintaining of the double percolation structure and the mechanical properties can also be significantly improved when SEBS content is 2 wt%, which can well balance the electrical properties and mechanical properties of the CPCs containing a double percolation structure.

Advancement in Packaging Film Using Microcrystalline Cellulose and TiO<sub>2</sub>

The objective of this study is to study the effects of the addition of TiO2 and microcrystalline cellulose on properties of packaging films based on biodegradable polymer blends. Biocompositions of Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) - Microcrystalline Cellulose were prepared by Twin Screw Extrusion using of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene as compatibilizer and TiO2 as pro-oxidative additives. Polyethylene wax was used as processing aid to ease the blown film process. The presence of large amount of microcrystalline cellulose contents had a divergent effect on the tensile properties of Cellulose-PE blend. However, the addition of compatibilizer to the blends improved the interfacial bonding between the two materials. High amount of cellulose also was found to upsurge the rate of biodegradability of Cellulose-PE composite films. The burst strength and soil burry test of this composite film was also improved. It suggest that this film can be used for packaging film which can degraded up to certain extend.

Impact of selective dispersion of intumescent flame retardant on properties of polypropylene blends

To obtain an effective and simple means to regulate the microstructure and synergistically improve the mechanical properties and flame retardancy, maleic anhydride grafting ethylene–octene copolymer (POE-g-MAH) was applied as the compatibilizer to adjust the dispersion of each component for the intumescent flame retardant polypropylene-toughened blends (iPP/POE/IFR) with multi-phase and multi-scale. The impact of selective dispersion of IFR on the microstructure and properties of the composites was investigated systematically in this study. The results showed that the aggravation of IFR particle was inhibited and the interphase adhesion with the polymer matrix was strengthened along with the increase of POE-g-MAH content, while the dimension of POE-rich domains was reduced initially due to better compatibility, and increased afterwards resulting from the incorporation of the IFR particles. At higher loading of POE-g-MAH, IFR rather dispersed in the POE-rich domains with “core–shell” structure than dispersed evenly in the polymer matrix, which is benefit for the increase of impact strength. However, this selective dispersion of IFR is disadvantageous to form the continuous and stable charred layer with typical folded structure, which imposed undesirable effect on flame retardancy. The addition of compatibilizer should be in a proper range to obtain the simultaneous improvement on mechanical properties and flame retardancy. It is believed the results of the study provide important references for flame retarded olyolefin blends system.

A study of PP/PET composites: Factorial design, mechanical and thermal properties

Due to the economic importance of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the large amount of composites made with PP matrix and recycled PET as reinforcing material; an investigation was performed regarding the mechanical and thermal behavior of PP composites containing recycled polyethylene terephthalate fibers (rPET). Interfacial adhesion between the two materials was achieved by adding a compatibilizer, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene, PP-g-MA. Mechanical behavior was assessed by tensile, flexural, impact and fatigue tests, and thermal behavior by HDT (Heat Deflection Temperature). Fractured surfaces and fiber were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Multiple regression statistical analysis was performed to interpret interaction effects of the variables. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus and HDT increased after rPET fiber incorporation while strain at break, impact strength and fatigue life decreased. Addition of compatibilizer increased tensile strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus, fatigue life and HDT while tensile modulus, strain at break and impact strength decreased. However, at low fiber content, the impact strength increased, probably due to nucleation effects on PP.

Preparation and properties of compatible starch-polycaprolactone composites: Effects of hard segments in the polyurethane compatibilizer

In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL)-based polyurethane prepolymers (PCLPU) with different types of hard-segments were used as compatibilizers to prepare compatible starch-PCL composites in an intensive mixer. The effects of the hard-segments in the PCLPU compatibilizers on the structure and properties of the compatible starch-PCL composite were analyzed thoroughly. The results showed that the addition of the PCLPU compatibilizer to the composites successfully improved the compatibility between starch and PCL. Also, since the NCO content of the different PCLPU compatibilizers was similar, the major factor that affected the structure and properties of the compatible starch-PCL composites was the difference in the interactions between the PCL matrix and the different PCLPU compatibilizers. The physical crosslinking between the PCL matrix and the PCLPU with aromatic diisocyanate-based hard-segments was stronger than that between the PCL matrix and the PCLPU with aliphatic diisocyanate-based hard-segments due to the smaller degree of phase separation that occurred in the PCLPU with aromatic diisocyanate-based hard-segments. Additionally, analyses of the emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD), and mechanical testing results of the composites showed that the compatibility between the starch and the PCL was improved significantly by the existence of the strong physical cross-linking between the PCLPU compatibilizer and the PCL matrix. Toward this end, the PCLPU with aromatic diisocyanate-based hard-segments improved the compatibility between the starch and the PCL better than the PCLPU with aliphatic diisocyanate-based hard-segments, and thereby boosted the overall performance of the composite materials to a higher degree.

Investigation of polyethylene‐grafted‐maleic anhydride presence as a compatibilizer on various properties of nanocomposite films based on polyethylene/ethylene vinyl alcohol/ nanoclay

High oxygen barrier films were prepared based on low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/ nanoclay and polyethylene‐grafted‐maleic anhydride (LDPE‐g‐MA) as a compatibilizer. Box–Behnken statistical experiment design methodology was employed to study the effects of nanoclay, LDPE‐g‐MA, and EVOH presence and their contents on various properties of the final films. The R2 parameter varied between 0.89 and 0.99 for all the obtained responses. The morphology of the samples was evaluated. Results of oxygen transfer rate (OTR) test indicated that the addition of EVOH up to 30 wt% to neat LDPE can decrease oxygen permeability significantly. The addition of nanoclay also decreased the permeability of resulting films but, LDPE‐g‐MA reduced the permeability of the films only at an optimal content. Elastic modulus was increased with the addition of nanoclay, EVOH, and LDPE‐g‐MA to the matrix. An increase in EVOH content in the samples improved the tensile strength. Effect of nanoclay on tensile strength was highly dependent on the presence of a compatibilizer. The addition of compatibilizer to the samples and increasing its content enhanced the tensile strength of the specimens. Incorporation of nanoclay, EVOH, and LDPE‐g‐MA to the LDPE matrix and increasing the amount of these components in the samples led to higher storage modulus, zero shear rate viscosity, and shear thinning exponent, but, lowered the terminal slope and the frequency of intersection point of storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″). The only exception was that EVOH increment resulted in a lower shear thinning exponent. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene/ethylene acrylic acid/maleic anhybride-grafted polypropylene/organoclay nanocomposites

Polypropylene (PP)/ethylene acrylic acid (EAA)/maleic anhybride-grafted PP (PP- g-MA)/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared using the melt mixing technique, and PP- g-MA and EAA were employed as the compatibilizers. The sodium montmorillonite (MMT) were pretreated with high-speed airflow pulverization method and then grafted using γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, followed by modification using trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride cation with supercritical carbon dioxide as the reaction medium (the obtained product was abbreviated as OGMMT). The modification of MMT was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of organoclay content on microstructure and mechanical properties of PP/EAA/PP- g-MA/OGMMT nanocomposites was investigated by XRD, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile strength, notched impact strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus. The results show that the OGMMT has a high weight loss, a large d-spacing increment, and exfoliation predomination structure. The addition of compatibilizers benefited the formation of exfoliated structure and the dispersion of OGMMT in PP matrix, and hence, enhanced the storage modulus ( G′) below the glass transition temperature ( Tg), storage modulus ( G″), Tg, tensile strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of the nanocomposites. Furthermore, with the increasing OGMMT content, the nanocomposites exhibited very inconsiderable alteration in the clay dispersion level and enhanced G′ below the Tg, G″, tensile strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of the nanocomposites, whereas the Tg was invariant. As a whole, the introduction of compatibilizers and OGMMT led to the reduction of notched impact strength, which also nearly linearly decreased with increasing clay content.

Development and characterization of novel polybutylene nanocomposites

Polybutylene/starch/nanoclay composite blends were prepared by melt extrusion technique. Maleic anhydride grafted polybutylene was used as a compatibilizer. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, rheological, and mechanical analysis. Addition of compatibilizer to the polybutylene/starch/nanoclay showed dispersion and nucleation related to the nanoclay in the polybutylene matrix. An increase in the mechanical properties like modulus and tensile strength at break and a decrease in the elongation at break were observed on the addition of compatibilizer to the matrix compared to that of uncompatibilized matrix. The biodegradability of the nanocomposites was studied using the landfill burial test. The blends subjected to the burial test were evaluated for their tensile properties. The results revealed that the tensile strength and elongation at break of the compatibilized nanocomposites decreased after 80 days of land burial test compared to the initial period.

The role of the compatibilizer on the microindentation hardness of iPP/PC blends

Blends of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and polycarbonate (PC) with and without a compatibilizer were prepared using a Brabender Haake Rheocord at 260°C and 32 rpm. Maleic anhydride grafted styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS-g-MAH) and maleic anhydride grafted ethylene–propylene diene (EPDM-g-MAH) were chosen as compatibilizers and their proportion was set to 5, 10, and 15 wt%, respectively. The thermal properties and crystallization behavior were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Micromechanical properties were also investigated using a Vickers microindentation tester. The DSC analysis indicates that the melting temperature of iPP in the all the blends, compatibilized and uncompatibilized ones, remains constant and is almost the same as those of the pure component. On the other hand, it is shown that the degree of crystallinity of iPP in the blends calculated by DSC and WAXS is dependent of the composition of the polymeric mixture. However the hardness (H) decreases with increasing PC content until the composition of iPP/PC (75/25) is reached, whereas for larger PC content values, H increases. The same trend was obtained with the addition of both compatibilizers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers

Compatibilization of cellulose acetate/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) blends by grafting copolymer

Blends of cellulose acetate (CA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were prepared by the solvent-casting method in both the presence and the absence of a compatibilizer agent. The compatibilizer was synthesized by reactive processing between CA and PHB. From the differential scanning calorimetric analysis, it has been identified that CA/PHB blends are immiscible in the range of PHB content studied. The existence of interactions between the components was observed due to the displacement of glass transition temperature relative to PHB phase in the blend. The grafting copolymer promoted the increase of interactions between the phases specifically to compatibilized CA/40%wtPHB blend. This composition shows significant changes in crystalline percentage compared to the uncompatibilized blend. The existence of phase interactions modified the viscoelastic behavior of the compatibilized blends by introducing changes in the chain segment mobility due to the addition of compatibilizer as the dynamic mechanical analysis has pointed out. It was observed that different of the blends with lower PHB content, CA/40%wtPHB compatibilized blend with same compatibilizer content did not reach PHB saturation. This difference in behavior can be attributed to the fact that the content of compatibilizer agent used was the proper amount to promote both PHB domain size reduction and dispersion. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers

Banana fiber reinforced low-density polyethylene composites: effect of chemical treatment and compatibilizer addition

In this study, an attempt has been made to utilize banana fiber (a natural fiber from agricultural waste) as reinforcement for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to develop environmental friendly composite materials. LDPE/banana fiber composites were fabricated at different fiber loadings (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt %) using compression molding technique. The composite with the composition of 25 wt % banana fiber was observed to be optimum on the basis of biodegradability and mechanical properties. Further, the effect of banana fiber surface treatment (alkali and acrylic acid) on the mechanical properties, morphology and water absorption behavior of the LDPE/banana fiber composites in the absence and presence of compatibilizer (maleic anhydride grafted LDPE, MA-g-LDPE) was comparatively studied. The alkali and acrylic acid treatment of the banana fibers led to enhanced mechanical properties and water resistance property of the composites, and these properties got further improved by the addition of the compatibilizer. The addition of compatibilizer to the acrylic acid treated banana fiber composites showed the most effective improvement in the flexural and impact strength and also, exhibited a reduction in the water absorption capacity. However, the tensile strength of the compatibilized composites with treated fibers resulted in slightly lower values than those with untreated fibers, because of the degradation of fibers by chemical attack as was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. SEM studies carried out on the tensile fractured surface of the specimens showed improved fiber-matrix interaction on the addition of compatibilizer.

The Influence of Compatibilizer Addition and Gamma Irradiation on Mechanical and Rheological Properties of a Recycled WEEE Plastics Blend

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is growing rapidly, and the plastics within WEEE have an important role in fulfilling the recovery and recycling targets defined in the European WEEE Directive. This study considers recycling of WEEE plastics by making a blend of the different plastics instead of separating them. The mechanical and thermal properties can be enhanced by adding a compatibilizer. It was found that one compatibilizer, a styrene-b(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene (SEBS) copolymer named Kraton® G1652 E, had a large impact on the ductility of the recycled WEEE plastics blend. By adding 2.5 weight % (wt%) of this copolymer, the elongation at break increased by more than five times compared with the non-compatibilized samples, with only a small decrease in stiffness and strength. The storage modulus (G’) decreased slightly with increasing compatibilizer amounts while the impact strength increased with increasing amounts of compatibilizer, from 2.1 kJ/m2 (reference material) to 3.6 kJ/m2 (5 weight % (wt%) compatibilizer). It was found that Kraton® FG1901 E (styrene-b(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene (SEBS) grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH)), Royaltuf® 372P20 (styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) modified with ethylene-propylene-diene elastomers (EPDM)) and Fusabond® P353 (polypropylene (PP) with a high degree of grafted MAH) were ineffective as compatibilizers to the blend. Gamma irradiation (50 kGy) did not improve the mechanical properties however: the impact strength of the gamma-irradiated samples was lower than that of the non-irradiated samples.

Effect of different compatibilizers on the mechanical and thermal properties of starch/polypropylene blends

ABSTRACTStarch was treated with three kinds of compatibilizers (coupling agents or modifying agents), KH‐550, KH‐570, and glycerin monostearate. Blends of polypropylene (PP) and treated starch were prepared by a twin‐screw extruder. The effects of the starch before and after treatments and the kinds and contents of the compatibilizers on the mechanical and thermal properties of the PP/starch blends were investigated in this study. We found that the mechanical properties (tensile strength, impact strength, and elongation at break) of the blends were obviously improved with increasing content of different kinds of compatibilizers. Meanwhile, the most significant improvement in the mechanical properties was obtained in the samples containing just a 1 wt % loading of compatibilizers, and KH‐570 had the best improved effects among the different kinds of compatibilizers. The results of thermogravimetric analysis demonstrate that to some extent, the thermal stability of the PP/starch blends was improved after the addition of compatibilizers. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the dispersion of starch in the PP matrix and adhesion between the starch and PP matrix were obviously improved after the addition of compatibilizers. KH‐570 not only had the best improved effects among the coupling agents but also still acted as a similar plasticizer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43332.

Morphological studies and thermo‐mechanical behavior of polypropylene/sepiolite nanocomposites

This article describes the effect of natural Sepiolite nanofibers on the properties of polypropylene (PP) in the absence/presence of compatibilizer (maleic anhydride grafted‐polypropylene (PP‐g‐MA)). For this purpose, PP/Sepiolite and PP/PP‐g‐MA/Sepiolite nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending using twin‐screw extruder. The morphology and dispersion of Sepiolite in PP composites characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed that the dispersion of Sepiolite in PP matrix was better in the presence of PP‐g‐MA. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the effect of Sepiolite on the thermal stability of PP in absence/presence of PP‐g‐MA. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) techniques were employed to assess the effect of Sepiolite on the crystallinity of PP matrix. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was used to evaluate the viscoelastic properties of PP/Sepiolite nanocomposites in solid state. Mechanical properties evaluated as per ASTM methods showed ∼65% increase in flexural modulus, 60%–70% increase in tensile modulus and 10%–20% increase in impact strength on addition of 10% Sepiolite in PP. Addition of compatibilizer has further improved the flexural modulus close to 85% when compared to neat PP without compromising other properties like impact strength and tensile strength. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E285–E294, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

Evaluation of crystallinity variation and phase dispersion in polymer blends and nanocomposites by Raman mapping

Raman mapping technique was used to characterize the crystallinity variations and phase distribution of individual components in polymer blends and polymer nanocomposites. The conformational changes of poly-l-lactide (PLA) and poly-e-caprolactone (PCL) were analysed in complex structures comprising PLA50PCL50 binary and PLA50TPS30PCL20 ternary blends (TPS = thermoplastic starch). The mapping images of PLA50PCL50 binary blend showed the existence of the PLA component in the amorphous form, whereas well-crystallized PLA was observed in the mapping images of PLA50TPS30PCL20 ternary blend. XRD and solid-state 13C NMR confirmed the Raman findings on these changes of PLA crystallinity in the blends. Causes of these crystallinity changes were revealed from Raman mapping of phase dispersion of blend components which exhibited small domains of PLA phase confined in between large clusters of PCL in the binary blend, whereas an improved dispersion of both phases in the ternary blend resulted owing to the presence of TPS phase. The role of compatibilizer in the dispersion of graphene (G) filler in the polyethylene matrix was also successfully visualized using Raman mapping technique in polyethylene–graphene (PE-G) and PE-G-CPE35 nanocomposites. The dispersion of graphene was less optimum in the PE-G composites, whereas in the PE-G-CPE35 composites, the addition of compatibilizer resulted in improved filler dispersion. The findings from Raman mapping were also corroborated with the TEM analysis of the filler dispersion.

Influence of Styrene Maleic Anhydride Compatibilizer on the Properties of Polyurethane Carbon Nanocomposites

In this study styrene maleic anhydride polymer was used as compatibilizer in making nanocomposites of polyurethane with carbon nanotubes (single walled) using twin screw extruder. The dispersion of nanotubes in polymer matrix was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The thermal properties were analysed using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyser. The tensile strength of the nanocomposites was estimated using Instron tensile testing machine. The result reveals that the addition of compatibilizer increases the tensile strength and the degradation temperature. In addition the energy calculation shows by using the compatibilizer the energy consumption of the extruder can be reduced.