Compatibilizer Content Research Articles

The behavior of compatibility of Ap-g-PHMA to impact polypropylene/kenaf fibres composites

In this research, the behavior of poly(hexyl methacrylate (PHMA) grafted to Amylopectin (Ap-g-PHMA) as a compatibilizer on isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/kenaf fibres composites was studied. In order to improve interfacial interaction between hydrophilic kenaf fibre and hydrophobic matrix polypropylene (PP), Ap-g-PHMA is used as a compatibilizer. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and mechanical testing were used for the composite characterization. The properties of binary and ternary systems have been analysed as a function of both fibre and compatibilizer content. All compatibilizer systems showed enhanced fibre dispersion and interfacial adhesion. It was found that using Ap-g-PHMA has a significant effect on composite properties. Fibre loading at 40% ratio showed very good effect regarding mechanical properties with 1% compatible agent. It is concluded, that incorporation of coupling agent had shown a better result than that of without it at a certain level of fibre loading.

Study on Preparation and Properties of Rubber Blends Based on Nitrile Butadiene Rubber and Chloroprene Rubber

In this work, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/chloroprene rubber (CR) blends were prepared and investigated. The results showed that NBR and CR in the NBR/CR (50/50) blend were partially compatible. This blend had a relatively regular and compact structure, which improved the mechanical properties as well as the weather resistance, thermal stability, and oil, grease resistances. At the DLH compatibilizer content of 1% (made from Cashew nut shell liquid) or D01 (made from Tung oil), the materials possess better mechanical and physical properties due to much more regular and compact structure. NBR/CR blends can be potential materials for industrial applications which demand high oil and grease resistance and good weather resistance as well as good thermal stability.

Compatibilizer Acidity in Coir-Reinforced PLA Composites: Matrix Degradation and Composite Properties

Coir fibers are lignocellulosic fibers extracted from the outer husk of a coconut, known for their versatility and low cost. This study assessed the feasibility of producing coir reinforced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites and the use of maleic anhydride grafted PLA (PLA-g-MA) as compatibilizer. Composites were produced in a twin-screw extruder and the mechanical properties were evaluated by tensile, flexural and heat deflection temperature tests. The morphological properties were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of compatibilizer and fiber content on molar mass of the composites was assessed by means of size-exclusion chromatography. SEM images showed that addition of the compatibilizer improved interfacial adhesion. However, this finding was not reflected in the mechanical properties because the high acidity content of the compatibilizer, revealed by titration of acid groups, along with the residual moisture of the fibers, significantly decreased molar mass of the polymer, impairing the composite matrix properties.

Incorporation of a recycled rubber compound from the shoe industry in polystyrene: Effect of SBS compatibilizer content

This research aimed to evaluate the influence of styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) compatibilizer in the polystyrene blends properties with a recycled styrene–butadiene rubber compound. The SBS content was 5, 7.5, and 10%. Commercial high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) was used for comparison. The results indicated that the viscosity of the blends was higher than that of HIPS. The blends compatibilized with 5 and 7.5% had the same level of impact strength as HIPS, while the one with 10% obtained a gain of 80% in relation to HIPS. The flexural strength, hardness, heat deflection temperature, and Vicat softening temperature properties were similar to those of HIPS, which was attributed to the presence of inorganic fillers, minimizing losses in these properties. By atomic force microscopy, two distinct phases were observed, and in the morphology analyzed through scanning electron microscopy, a typical characteristic of immiscible blends was observed.

Grafting polypropylene over hollow glass microspheres by reactive extrusion

Abstract Hollow glass microspheres HGM are light, round, hollow, hydrophilic microspheres used to produce polyolefin composites with reduced density. To maintain mechanical strength, it is necessary to improve the adhesion between the polymer matrix and the microspheres, which is done by a compatibilizer. For polypropylene composites a maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene copolymer PP-g-MAH is employed. The melt mixing is done in a reactive extrusion when the maleic group of the compatibilizer reacts with hydroxyl groups present at the microspheres’ surface, grafting a long PP chain. The aim of this work is to quantify the esterification grafting conversion and its efficiency during the reactive extrusion to the formation of PP/HGM composites compatibilized with PP-g-MAH. Techniques like TGA, FTIR and SEM were used to quantify the grafted PP content formed and the efficiency of the esterification reaction, which is mainly dependent of the compatibilizer concentration and reactive extrusion temperature.

<i>In Situ</i> Reactive Interfacial Compatibilization of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)/Metallocene Polyethylene Blends

Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was melt blended with metallocene polyethylene (m-PE) with an effort to achieve excellent mechanical properties, a terpolymer elastomer, ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (E-MA-GMA), was loaded as compatibilizer through in situ reacting with the end groups of PET to bond two immiscible phases. In order to investigate the in situ effects of the compatibilizer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical analysis was applied to investigate PET/m-PE blends’ properties along with the variation of compatibilizer content. Statistics of particle size were applied to demonstrate the variation of the blends’ properties along with morphology. The results revealed that an appropriate loading of compatibilizer can obtain stiffness-toughness balanced blends.

Weathering properties and hydrolysis of poly(butylene terephthalate)/poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐styrene‐co‐acrylate) blend with reactive compatibilizer

ABSTRACTThe effects of compatibilizer on the weathering properties and hydrolysis of the poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/poly(acrylonitrile‐styrene‐acrylate) (PolyASA) blend (70/30 wt %) were investigated. Poly(ethylene‐co‐glycidylmethacrylate‐g‐styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (EGMA‐g‐SAN) was used as a compatibilizer of the blend. When the EGMA‐g‐SAN content was 3 phr, the impact and tensile strengths of the PBT/PolyASA blend showed maximum; as the EGMA‐g‐SAN content was increased from 0 to 3 phr, the impact strength of the blend increased from 6.1 to 9.5 kJ m−2. The rheological results showed that when the EGMA‐g‐SAN was 3 phr, the storage modulus and complex viscosity of the blend also showed maximum value. The mechanical and rheological results of the blend were consistent with the morphological result that when the EGMA‐g‐SAN was 3 phr, PolyASA domain size of the blend showed minimum. The weathering results showed that when the EGMA‐g‐SAN content was 3 phr, the gloss value of weathered surface of the blend showed maximum. After hydrolysis test, when the EGMA‐g‐SAN content was 3 phr, the impact and tensile strengths of the blend showed maximum. The mechanical, rheological, and weathering results suggested that EGMA‐g‐SAN is an effective compatibilizer in the PBT/PolyASA blend, and the optimum compatibilizer content is 3 phr. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47197.

Physico-thermal properties of kenaf fiber/high-density polyethylene/maleic anhydride compatibilized composites

Kenaf fiber/high-density polyethylene/maleic anhydride (MA)-compatibilized composites were melt mixed in a twin-screw extruder and molded using injection molding machine. Physicothermal properties of the composites were studied at different percentages of compatibilizer contents using various techniques. The addition of 8% compatibilizer into 8.5 and 17.5 wt% fiber content improved the adhesion and tensile strength by 14.5% and 13.6%, respectively. Compatibilized samples exhibited higher peak load and fracture energy on impact testing compared to the samples without maleic anhydride compatibilizer. The effect of the addition of maleic anhydride compatibilizer on peak load and fracture energy was observed to be at its highest at 8%. Differential scanning calorimetric measurements revealed that the melting enthalpy and degree of crystallinity of composites increased with increasing compatibilizer content up to 8% and then decreased at 12% compatibilizer content. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the storage modulus of composites was increased, but the loss modulus and tangent delta were decreased after the addition of compatibilizer. This indicates that compatibilized composites produced have improved toughness and reduced stiffness.

Thermal behaviors and characteristics of polylactide/poly(butylene succinate) blend films via reactive compatibilization and plasticization

Polylactide (PLA)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blend films modified with a compatibilizer and a plasticizer were hot‐melted through a twin screw extruder and prepared by hydraulic press. Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and polylactide‐grafted‐maleic anhydride (PLA‐g‐MA) were used as compatibilizers, while triethyl citrate and tricresyl phosphate acted as plasticizers. The effects of the type and content of compatibilizer and plasticizer on the mechanical characteristics, thermal properties, crystallization behavior, and phase morphology of the PLA/PBS blend films were investigated. Reactive compatibilization at increasing levels of TDI improved the compatibility of the PLA and PBS, affecting the toughness of the films. As evidenced by scanning electron microscope, the addition of TDI enhanced the interfacial adhesion of the blends, leading to the appearance of many elongated fibrils at the fracture surface. Furthermore, PLA/PBS blending with both TDI and PLA‐g‐MA led to an acceleration of the cold crystallization rate and an increment of the degree of crystallinity ( ). Toluene diisocyanate could be a more effective compatibilizer than PLA‐g‐MA for PLA/PBS blend films. The synergistic combination of compatibilizer and plasticizer brought a significant improvement in elongation at break and tensile‐impact toughness of the PLA/PBS blends, compared with neat PLA. Their failure mode changed from brittle to ductile due to the improved compatibility and molecular segment mobility of the PLA and PBS phases. Differential scanning calorimeter results revealed that the plasticizers triethyl citrate and tricresyl phosphate changed the thermal behavior of Tcc and Tm, affecting α′ and α crystal formations. However, these plasticizers only slightly improved the thermal stability of the films.

Influence of PP-g-MA Compatibilization on the Mechanical and Wear Properties of Polypropylene/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Blends

ABSTRACT Polypropylene/thermoplastic polyurethane (PP/TPU) blends of different weight ratios (75/25 and 25/75) were processed by melt blending using a maleic anhydride–grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) copolymer as coupling agent. The influence of the amount of the coupling agent (0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 phr) on the mechanical, frictional, and wear properties of the blends were characterized through tensile test, three-point bending, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and ball-on-disc wear tests. PP-g-MA was found to be an effective compatibilizer for PP/TPU blends, and mechanical and wear properties of the blends were proved to be strongly impacted by the amount of coupling agent. Tensile strength of the blends tends to increase with increasing the PP-g-MA content and 9 phr is found to be optimal for both concentrations of the blends. Good miscibility of the blends with increasing compatibilizer content was also verified by DMA. From the wear test results, the compatibilizer was found to be more effective in PP75/TPU25 blends, in parallel with the results of the mechanical tests. The PP75/TPU25 blend with 11 phr PP-g-MA content was superior to the other blends. In addition, in this work, a new model based on image processing is proposed that provides accurate and fast wear rate measurement and detailed information of the wear track, especially in heterogeneous materials. Using the model, the homogeneity of the wear track widths was proved to be strongly impacted and improved by the use of a coupling agent.

Relationship between the interfacial tension and compatibility of polycarbonate and poly(acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) blends with reactive compatibilizers

ABSTRACTWe studied the morphological, mechanical, and rheological properties of polycarbonate (PC) and poly(acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) (PolyABS) blends with different types of compatibilizer. Styrene–acrylonitrile–maleic anhydride terpolymer (SAM) was used as a compatibilizer of the blends. For comparison, styrene–acrylonitrile–glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer (SAG) was also used as a compatibilizer. For the PC–PolyABS (70/30 wt %) blends with SAM, the mechanical strength and complex viscosity reached a maximum when the SAM concentration was 5 phr. The mechanical and rheological results of the blend were consistent with the morphological result that the PolyABS domain size reached a minimum when the SAM content was 5 phr. The interfacial tension (α) of the blend was compared with the compatibilizer type and content, which were calculated by the Palierne emulsion model with the relaxation time of the PC–PolyABS blend. The α is consistent with the morphological and mechanical properties of the PC–PolyABS blend. The results of the morphological, mechanical, and rheological properties of the blend suggest that SAM was a more effective compatibilizer than SAG, and the optimum compatibilizer content of SAM was 5 phr. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46418.

Thermal analysis, statistical predicting, and optimization of the flexural properties of natural fiber biocomposites using Box–Behnken experimental design

ABSTRACTThe object of this study is to investigate the flexural properties of biocomposites based on polypropylene/kenaf fiber/polypropylene-grafted maleic anhydride (PP/kenaf/PP-g-MA) using the response surface methodology. A three-factor, three-level Box–Behnken design, which is the subset of the response surface methodology, has been applied to present mathematical models as a function of kenaf fiber load, fiber length, and PP-g-MA compatibilizer content for the prediction of flexural strength and modulus behavior of the natural fiber biocomposite. Three levels were chosen for the considered parameters as follows: kenaf fiber (10–30 wt%), fiber length (2–10 mm), and PP-g-MA (1–5 wt%). Optimum compositions for better flexural properties were obtained from contour plots and response surface methodology. The results obtained using the design expert software showed the optimal flexural strength and modulus to be 53.66 and 3442 MPa, respectively. The obtained values and normal probability plots indicated a good agreement between the experimental results and those predicted by the model. Finally, the morphology and thermal stability of the samples were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.

The Effects of Compatibilizers on the Morphological, Mechanical, and Optical Properties of Biaxially Oriented Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Syndiotactic Polystyrene Blend Films

In this study, the effects of three different types of compatibilizers on the morphological, mechanical, and optical properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and syndiotactic-polystyrene (s-PS) (70/30, wt%) blends and biaxially oriented blend films of the two polymers were investigated. The morphological results of the PET/s-PS (70/30) blends revealed that when the 5 phr polystyrene-g-oxazoline (PS-g-OXA) was used as a compatibilizer, the domain size showed minimum. The mechanical studies of the PET/s-PS (70/30) blends showed that when 5 phr PS-g-OXA was used, increased tensile strength was obtained. The transmittance of the blend film showed the highest value (83.7%) for the biaxially oriented PET/s-PS (70/30) blend films with the PS-g-OXA (5 phr), compared with that of the blends without compatibilizer (70.8%), or with the styrene-co-maleic anhydride as a compatibilizer, at the wavenumber of 600 nm. The tensile strength of the biaxially oriented PET/s-PS (70/30) blend films also showed the highest value when PS-g-OXA (5 phr) was used as a compatibilizer. The morphological, optical, and mechanical results of the PET/s-PS (70/30) blends and biaxially oriented blend films of the two polymers showed that PS-g-OXA was the most effective compatibilizer, and that the optimum compatibilizer content was 5 phr.

Effect of SEBS-g-MAH addition on the mechanical, rheological, and morphological properties of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene blends

In this research, the effect of maleic anhydride–grafted styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene (SEBS-g-MAH) compatibilizer on different properties of polycarbonate and poly(acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) (PC/ABS) blends was investigated. For this purpose, blends of PC and ABS at different ratios, without and with varying concentrations of compatibilizer, were prepared by melt compounding in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder followed by injection molding. The effectiveness of the compatibilizer was investigated by studying the microstructure and the mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of the blends. It was found that the addition of the compatibilizer increases tensile strength, modulus, elongation at break, impact strength, complex viscosity, and thermal stability. This effect was noted at a loading of 1 wt% of compatibilizer, where enhanced interactions between the PC and ABS can be seen. Rheological methods, based on dynamic viscoelastic tests, allowed us to distinguish between emulsion-like and co-continuous morphologies and allowed an insight into the effect of the compatibilizer on the interfacial tension.

Assessment of compatibilization efficiency of SEBS in the PP/PS blend

ABSTRACTThe compatibilization efficiency of styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer in immiscible polypropylene (PP)/polystyrene (PS) 20/80 blends was evaluated in terms of not only morphology, but also rheology and fractionated crystallization behavior. Besides varying SEBS loading, four different mixing protocols were used to vary SEBS dispersion state. PP2/PS/SEBS blend, prepared by two‐step method mixing PS and SEBS primarily, presents the largest droplet size (1.278 μm) at the critical compatibilizer concentration (CCC = 1 wt %). However, the CCC of blends prepared by the other protocols is 2 wt %. And at the CCC, PP/PS2/SEBS (two step method mixing PP and SEBS primarily) shows the smallest droplet size (0.908 μm), followed by PP/PS/SEBS (one step method). The rheology and crystallization behavior of PP/PS blends could also be utilized to assess the compatibilization efficiency of SEBS, but only in the case of mixing under the same protocol and the content of SEBS below a CCC. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46244.

Dual effects of compatibilizer on the formation of oriented ribbon-like dispersed phase domains in polystyrene/polyamide 6 blends

Polymer blends with oriented ribbon-like dispersed phase were prepared via tape extrusion. Two specially designed compatibilizers, one being non-reactive and another reactive, were used to examine their influence on the formation of oriented ribbon-like dispersed phase in polystyrene (PS)/polyamide 6 (PA6) blend. Results show that both compatibilizers can decrease interfacial tension and produce vinculum effect to strengthen the deformation of dispersed phase. Moreover, the stretching force of tape extrusion pushes the compatibilizer molecules towards the tips of dispersed phase causing a non-uniform distribution along the surface of dispersed phase. At a low loading concentration of compatibilizer, the deformed dispersed phase particles can connect each other from their middle part and merge into long and even endless ribbons. However, when the loading of compatibilizer exceeds a certain level, the formation of ribbon-like dispersed phase will be impeded because all surfaces of dispersed phase are completely covered by the compatibilizer so that the coalescence of dispersed phase cannot occur.

Thermally stable low‐density polyethylene/polyhydroxybutyrate pairs: Synergy between organomodified nanoclay and LDPE‐g‐MAH

ABSTRACTNanocomposites of low‐density polyethylene/polyhydroxybutyrate (LDPE/PHB) containing organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT) and/or LDPE grafted maleic anhydride (LDPE‐g‐MAH) were prepared with a wide range of composition ratios using a vertical co‐rotating twin‐screw microCompounder. To infer the effect of OMMT and LDPE‐g‐MAH on the thermal stability of prepared nanocomposites, all samples were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis while changing clay and compatibilizer contents. Accordingly, two commonly used kinetic models (Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger) were employed to correlate the thermal stability of the samples with kinetic parameters, including activation energy and pre‐exponential factor. Furthermore, morphological features of LDPE/PHB in the presence or absence of OMMT and LDPE‐g‐MAH were studied using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analysis. It was found that for a specific OMMT composition ratio (1 wt %), the thermal stability is enhanced due to an exfoliated structure. However, for samples containing more organoclay (>=3 wt %), the thermal stability was reduced showing the competition between the barrier effect of organoclay platelets and the catalyzing effect of ammonium salts. Moreover, when using LDPE‐g‐MAH as compatibilizer, it acted as a good coupling agent in all compositions in LDPE major phase systems in contrast to PHB major phase samples. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45922.

Validation of rheological responses for morphological evaluation of incompatible polyamide 12/thermoplastic elastomer blends filled with nanoclay

The interrelationship between viscoelastic responses and multiphasic morphology in compatibilized PA 12/nanoclay/SBS nanocomposites has been investigated. Different effects of material parameters including nanoclay, SBS rubber and compatibilizer contents on the rheology and morphology correlations have been evaluated. The findings showed that the solid like and shear thinning behavior along with relaxation time and Casson yield stress intensify at higher contents of nanoclay and SBS rubber. By increasing the SBS level, smaller rubber particles with narrower size distribution were obtained that was in agreement with the rheological properties. Nonetheless, the incorporation of more nanoclay effectively resulted in finer matrix/dispersed morphology just in the presence of larger compatibilizer contents. Although m-SEBS influenced the biphasic morphology similar to common compatibilizers, the non-terminal behavior of the nanocomposites weakened at higher m-SEBS levels due to the stronger compatibilizer effect on the chain confinement in nanoclay galleries than the one on the PA12/SBS rubber interfacial adhesion.

The Effect of Compatibilization on the Properties and Foaming Behavior of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Poly(ethylene-octene) Blends

The methodology for improving the properties and foaming behavior of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/poly(ethylene-octene) (POE) blends through compatibilization was proposed. In this paper, PET/POE blends were prepared through a melt blending method, POE was employed as elastomer toughener, maleic anhydride grafted POE (mPOE) was selected as compatibilizer, and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) was used as chain extender. The content of mPOE was changeable to study the effect of compatibility on crystallization behavior, toughness, dispersion morphology, and rheological behavior of PET/ POE blends. The results demonstrated that the crystallization peak of PET/POE blends shifted towards high temperatures from 196.97°C to 201.24°C with the content of mPOE increasing. The brittle-ductile transition for PET/POE blends occurred at the mPOE content in the range of 4–5 phr. The particle size of POE dispersed phase decline firstly and then was almost unchanged with an increasing content of mPOE. The storage modulus and complex viscosity of compatibilized PET/POE blends were obviously higher than that of uncompatibilized PET/POE blends. Then PET/POE blends were foamed using supercritical CO2 as physical blowing agent. The results showed that the cell size, cell density, and tensile properties of the PET/POE blending foams were affected by the content of mPOE strongly. With the content of mPOE, the cell size decreased and then kept stable as well as the cell density the trend of cell size increased then remained unchanged. In addition, the elongation at break of PET/POE blending foams was higher than that of the uncompatibilized PET/POE blending foam. PET/POE blending foams with fine cell morphology and good ductility could be achieved with a proper content of compatibilizer in the blends.

An experimental investigation and optimization on the impact strength of kenaf fiber biocomposite: application of response surface methodology

A big scientific challenge of biocomposites is in improving impact strength. Thus, the key aspect of the present study is in investigating an in-depth statistical approach on influence of processing parameters on the impact strength of the biocomposite. Natural fiber biocomposites, consisting of polypropylene (PP) and kenaf as natural fiber, were produced using melt blending. The simultaneous effects of different parameters including kenaf fiber loading, fiber length and polypropylene-grafted maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) compatibilizer content on the impact strength have been evaluated. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to design the experiments. The optimum impact strength of 30.76 j/m was obtained with kenaf fiber loading of 26.77 wt%, fiber length of 6.09 mm and PP-g-MA content of 5 wt%. The biocomposites prepared with optimum levels of fabrication process parameters that were obtained using the response surface graph and models, had a 19% increase in impact strength than pure PP. Among the selected processing parameters, fiber loading has a most significant effect on the impact strength of the biocomposites. The thermal behavior of the kenaf fiber was evaluated from TGA/DTG thermograms. The fiber-matrix morphology in the treated biocomposites with PP-g-MA was confirmed by SEM analysis of the fractured specimens. FTIR spectra of the biocomposite with and without PP-g-MA were also studied to ascertain the existence of type of interfacial bonds. Finally, the crystallinity of PP and the biocomposites were also studied through DSC measurements.