Effect Of Compatibilizer Research Articles

Epoxidized polybutadiene rubber as an effective compatibilizer for acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and polybutadiene rubber blend

In the present study, epoxidized polybutadiene rubber (EBR; 30 mol% epoxidation) was synthesized using commercial-grade cis-polybutadiene rubber (BR). The EBR was successfully utilized as an effective compatibilizer between two incompatible elastomers, namely polar acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and non-polar polybutadiene rubber (BR). The NBR and BR were blended in varied formulations and studied for morphological and mechanical properties. The observed properties of the blends containing EBR, as a compatibilizer, were compared with analogous blends without EBR. The optimum loading of EBR in NBR/BR formulations was found to be 5 phr (parts per hundred gram of rubber). The significant improvement in various mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break and hardness were observed in presence of optimum loading of EBR in NBR/BR blends. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analyser (DMA) studies revealed that the compatibility between two incompatible rubbers improved in the presence of EBR. The results observed with EBR-compatibilized blends revealed that EBR can be used as an effective compatibilizer between two incompatible rubbers (NBR and BR).

The effects of melt grafted maleated polybutylene succinate on the properties of poly(hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyhexanoate)/polybutylene succinate blends

AbstractPoly(hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHH)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blends were prepared using a melt blending technique. A compatibilizer of maleated PBS (PBSgMA) was produced using reactive melt grafting by varying the maleic anhydride (MA) monomer concentration ranging from 3 to 10 parts per hundred resin (phr). Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analyses confirmed the grafting reaction of the PBSgMA. The PBSgMA was incorporated in the 80PHBHH/20PBS and 50PHBHH/50PBS blends to investigate the effect of maleated compatibilizer on the tensile, flexural, drop weight impact, and water absorption properties of the blends with droplets dispersed and co‐continuous morphology. The incorporation of PBSgMA increased the tensile and flexural strength of both the 80PHBHH/20PBS and 50PHBHH/50PBS blends, where the optimum properties achieved at 5 phr concentration of MA. The drop weight impact test results showed that uncompatibilized and compatibilized 50PHBHH/50PBS blends had higher critical strain energy release rate (Gc) than the neat PHBHH. However, blending and compatibilizing did not have a positive effect on the critical stress intensity factor (Kc) of the neat PHBHH. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the improvement of interfacial adhesion and PBS polymer dispersion in PHBHH/PBS blends when incorporated with 5PBSgMA. The water absorption test results demonstrated that compatibilized blends absorbed slightly more water than uncompatibilized blends due to the presence of hygroscopic carboxyl groups of the PBSgMA. However, water absorption effects were reversible and did not result in severe permanent damage to the blends.

Effect of reactionary capable siloxane compatibilizer on the properties of blends of ethylene propylene diene and siloxane rubbers

Effect of reactionary capable siloxane compatibilizer on the properties of blends of ethylene propylene diene and siloxane rubbers

Toughening and thermal characteristics of plasticized polylactide and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blend films: Influence of compatibilization

Bio-based polylactide (PLA) derived from fermented corn starch was blended with poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and triethyl citrate (TEC) plasticizer using a twin screw extruder. PLA-grafted-maleic anhydride (PLA-g-MA) synthesized via reactive maleation and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) were used as compatibilizers for these blends. Improvements in the toughness, phase morphology and thermal behavior of the PLA/PBAT/TEC (PBT) blend films were evaluated in terms of compatibilization effect. The compatibilized PBT blends showed noticeably superior tensile strength, elongation, and tensile-impact toughness compared with uncompatibilized ones due to the greater compatibility of PLA and PBAT phases. Well dispersed PBAT particles and many elongated fibrils were observed on the fracture surface of the film after compatibilization. Both TDI and PLA-g-MA were effective compatibilizers for the blend at an appropriate level. The addition of PLA-g-MA to the plasticized blends not only significantly enhanced mechanical properties and phase adhesion, but also accelerated cold crystallization and formed crystal perfection, a result of improvements in chain mobility and packing efficiency. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results revealed changes in Tg and melting behavior of the blends from influences of compatibilization. The different types and levels of compatibilizer affected the thermal stability of the PLA phase but did not affect char remaining.

Effect of Compatibilizers on the Structure and Dynamics at Polymer Blend Interfaces

We use coarse grained Molecular Dynamics simulations to determine the effect of diblock copolymers and inorganic sheet like compatibilizers at polymer blend interfaces. Previous studies have shown that the interfacial region is prone to slip if an external shear force is applied to the polymer blend. While a number of theoretical and computational studies have examined the effect of copolymer compatibilizers, the effect of adding sheet-like compatilibilizers (for e.g. nanoclay) has not been investigated computationally. Thus, while experiments have shown that sheet-like filler are effective, the exact mechanisms are unknown. Our results indicate that sheet like fillers that have equal affinity to either polymer in a binary blend can produce a larger reduction of interfacial tension when compared to diblock copolymers at equal volume fractions. However, the localization of sheet fillers at the interface can be a possible limiting factor. We also show that sheet fillers reduce slip, thus providing for improved stress transfer across the interface, leading to a stronger blend.

Impact Modifiers and Compatibilizers for Versatile Epoxy-Based Adhesive Films with Curing and Deoxidizing Capabilities.

Epoxy resins with acidic compounds feature adhesion, robustness, and deoxidizing ability. In this study, hybrid adhesive films with deoxidizing and curing capabilities for semiconductor packaging were fabricated. The compatibilizing effects and mechanical properties were chiefly investigated by using various additive binders (thermoplastic amorphous polymers) and compatibilizing agents. The curing, deoxidizing, thermal, and rheological properties were systematically investigated. For uniform film formation and maximizing deoxidizing curable abilities, a thermoplastic–thermoset mixture containing a phenyl and carboxylic acid-based additive (benzoic acid), and a polycarbonate was chosen as the model adhesive film. Without either a phenyl or an acidic group in the compatibilizing agent, deoxidizing and compatibilizing effects were not achieved. The manufactured hybrid adhesive film can be effectively used, especially for electronic devices that require deoxidization and adhesion.

Crosslinked network formation beyond graft copolymers in transparent bisphenol-A Polycarbonate/Poly(methyl methacrylate) blends catalyzed by bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide based organic salts

It has been widely accepted that the promoted transparency of bisphenol-A Polycarbonate/Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PC/PMMA) blends was attributed to the transesterification induced PC-graft(g)-PMMA copolymer formation during melt extrusion of the blends. However, prior studies fall short of detailed characterization of the PC-g-PMMA copolymers. In this paper, we investigated the effect of different bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide-based salts on the compatibilization and optical transparency properties of PC/PMMA blends. It was found that Mg(TFSI)2 showed the best compatibilization effect and could enable transparent blend films for PC/PMMA blends at all PMMA compositions as manifested from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA). Moreover, elution experiments with mutual solvent left intractable portion indication crosslinked network formation beyond PC-g-PMMA copolymers. Finally, the detailed structure of PC-g-PMMA copolymers was studied by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to analyze the detailed structure of the PC-g-PMMA copolymers formed during melt extrusion.

Synthesis, characterization and its compatibilization on polymer blends of arched Janus nanosheets

The anisotropic Janus particles possess better compatibilization effect because of its different chemical compartition. Herein, silica-based Janus nanosheets (JNSs) were synthesized by one-step method and used as the compatibilizer of poly (p-dioxanone)/poly (lactic acid) (PPDO/PLA) composites. Their asymmetric morphology and chemical composition were tested by SEM, EDS-mapping, XPS, FTIR, and TGA. The effects of JNSs on the compatibilization, viscoelasticity, and mechanical properties of PPDO/PLA composites were also investigated. The arched JNSs tightly hold PLA dispersed phase with chemical bonds on the inner surface accompanied with Van der Waals force on the outer surface. The synergistic effect of chemical bonds, concavo-convex fitted anchoring, and orientation leads to the simultaneous increase in the strength and toughness of PPDO/PLA/JNSs composites. The tensile strength and elongation at break of PPDO/PLA composites containing 0.05 phr of JNSs increased by 16.65% and 216.9%, respectively, compared to PPDO/PLA composites without JNSs.

Analysis of the effect of the interaction parameters of copolymer blocks on their efficiency in reducing the interfacial tension between the components of immiscible polymer blends

Block and graft copolymers with blocks that are identical to, miscible with or adhere to related components of a polymer blend can serve as compatibilizers. The relatively simple models established by Leibler and Noolandi provide the basis for addressing the influence of partial interaction parameters between the individual segments of two homopolymers and one copolymer and the influence of the copolymer block length ratio on the compatibilization efficiency. The maximum compatibilization efficiency for both the wet and dry brush formulae is obtained for a slightly longer chain of units compatible with the dispersed phase than that compatible with the matrix. A negative interaction parameter between a copolymer block and any homopolymer leads to lower copolymer contents at the interface and thus to a weaker compatibilization effect. If the units of one block of copolymer are miscible with one of the homopolymers and the units of the second block are immiscible with the second homopolymer, the copolymer content at the interface is lower than that when the mentioned interaction parameters are zero, and the compatibilization effect becomes weaker.

Study of the Properties of Polyethylene/Thermoplastic Starch Blends: Determination of the Critical Compatibilizer Concentration

The use of immiscible polymers blends is highly prevalent worldwide in view of their unique properties. Nevertheless, the main technical obstacle in the way of developing novel polymers blends remains the effective compatibilization between their components. In this work, reactive compatibilization blends consisting of thermoplastic corn starch/low density polyethylene (TPCS)/LDPE and thermoplastic corn starch/linear low density polyethylene (TPCS)/LLDPE with different portions of polyethylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) as compatibilizer were prepared. The novelty of this study is that commercial PE and starches from the local market were used to determine the critical concentration of PE-g-MA needed to attain the best blend properties. FTIR study proved that in the blends containing 7% of compatibilizer, all the available maleic anhydride groups in the PE-g-MA had reacted with the hydroxyl groups of the starch forming new ester bonds. The MFI measurements showed that when the compatibilizer was added, the melt flow index of the blend decreases down to 7% of PE-g-MA and when more compatibilizer was added no more change in MFI was noticed because of the cessation of ester bonds forming. The thermal stability improved with the increase of (PE-g-MA) concentration till 7% then it decreased again at 9%. The elongation at break and the tensile strength reached the highest value with 7 wt % of PE-g-MA.

Structure of PBAT/PPC blends prepared by in-situ reactive compatibilization and properties of their blowing films

Biodegradable films of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) blends are prepared by reactive extrusion and blowing film. The effects of compatibilizer, ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate(EMA-GMA) on rheological, phase morphology and crystallization properties are investigated. It is shown from the rheological behavior of PPC/PBAT blends that the addition of EMA-GMA in the compounding of PPC and PBAT is beneficial to the stability of blown film processing. With increasing the content of compatibilizer (EMA-GMA) in PBAT/PPC (70/30), the radius of dispersed phase increases and some droplets (PPC phase) begin to coalesce. This coalescing of PPC droplets tend to form a partial co-continuous structure. The crystallization temperature of blends is also improved with the addition of EMA-GMA. When the melt strength and crystallization temperature is increased, the processing stability and quality of the blowing film is improved. Then a more uniform and smoother surface of films is obtained. Moreover, the mechanical, oxygen barrier and UV light shielding properties are improved with the addition of EMA-GMA, which will greatly broaden the application of biodegradable PBAT/PPC films in the field of photosensitive products packaging materials.

Effect of compatibilizers on lignin/bio-polyamide blend carbon precursor filament properties and their potential for thermostabilisation and carbonisation

Biobased blends from hydroxypropyl modified lignin (TcC) and a biobased polyamide (PA1010) were produced by continuous sub-pilot scale melt spinning process. A reactive compatibilization was employed with the help of two different compatibilizers (ethylene-acrylic ester-maleic anhydride (MA) and ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)) to enhance the compatibility between the TcC and PA1010. The enhanced compatibility between the TcC and PA1010 achieved by reaction between hydroxyl groups with maleic anhydride groups in the MA compatibilizer or epoxy groups in the GMA compatibilizer via nucleophilic substitution, was confirmed by chemical (Fourier infrared measurements), physical (glass transition, melting and crystallization behaviour), rheological, morphological and tensile properties of the filaments from compatibilized blends. MA compatibilizer required a higher concentration (2 phr) than GMA (1 phr) to achieve an optimal performance because of the difference in the reactive group's concentration within the each compatibilizer. The MA compatibilizer though was more effective than GMA. The precursor blended filaments were successfully carbonized in a lab scale experiment to yield coherent carbon fibres with tensile stress values of 192 ± 77 and 159 ± 95 MPa; and moduli of 16.2 and 13.9 GPa respectively for uncompatibilised and 2% MA compatibilized blends. That the compatibilized carbon fibre properties are slightly inferior may be attributed to the need to accurately control and optimise applied stress during the thermostabilisation and carbonization stages. Notwithstanding, these differences, the results indicate the potential benefit of using compatibilized TcC/PA1010 blend filaments as carbon fibre precursors.

Morphology and properties of polybutylene succinic and cassava starch blend: Effect of esterification catalysts on graft copolymer formation

AbstractThe purpose of this research is to produce of esterified thermoplastic starch (ETPS) for reactive extrusion melt‐blending with polybutylene succinate (PBS) in film blowing application. Esterification TPS named M‐TPS and T‐TPS were prepared from cassava starch, glycerol (plasticizer), and maleic anhydride (MA), tartaric acid (TA) as reactive compatibilizers in a twin extruder, respectively. FTIR results showed that esterification reactions were successfully formed between both MA and TA with cassava starch. The esterified TPSs was then melt blended with PBS in the presence of four kinds of esterification catalysts. The effect of compatibilizer contents on the blend properties was studied in terms of tensile properties, melt flow index (MFI), and electron scanning microscopy (SEM). The results show that TA induced better compatibilization effect than MA did, as evidenced by the PBS/T‐TPS blend possessing higher strength than these of PBS/M‐TPS, although SEM images showed structural morphology of both blends is similar. The effect of the esterification catalyst type and contents on properties of the PBS/T‐TPS blend was also studied. The results from the Molau test confirmed the formation of graft‐copolymer (PBSgT‐TPS) at the interface of two phases of the blend when compatibilizers were added in the presence of an organotin compound catalyst.

Tensile and Impact Properties of Rice Husk Filled Ethylene-Acrylic Ester Maleic Anhydride Compatibilized Polypropylene Composites

Rice husk (RH) is an agricultural waste that is gaining importance as fillers for polymers due to its abundant advantages such as light weight, low cost and environmentally friendly. This study investigates the tensile and impact properties of rice husk waste (RH) filled polypropylene (PP) composites with ethylene-acrylic ester maleic anhydride (E-AE-MA) as compatibilizer. The compatibilizer agent is used to improve compatibility between the RH which is hydrophilic and non-polar PP. Tensile test and impact strength test were conducted according to ASTM D638 and ASTM D256 standards. The incorporation of 15 wt% of RH into PP increased the Young's modulus of PP by 28 % but decreased the tensile strength and impact strength by 10 % and 31 % compared to neat PP. The elongation at break was observed to decrease by approximately 4 %. The addition of E-AE-MA at 4 parts per hundred (phr) to the composite increased the impact strength and elongation at break of RH-PP composite by 18 % and 22 % , but decreased the Young's modulus and tensile strength by 18 % and 5 %. The overall results showed that the elongation at break and Young's modulus of the compatibilized RH-PP composite is higher than neat PP, including that E-AE-MA is an effective compatibilizer between RH filler and PP due to its ability to improve adhesion between the two phases.

In-situ Microfibrillar Recycled PET/Glass Fiber/PP Hybrid Thermoplastic Composites

Hybrid composites of in-situ microfibrillar recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET)/glass fiber (GF)/polypropylene (PP) were developed as an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic PP composites. The effect of replacing glass fibers with in-situ formed polymer microfibrils on mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the composites was investigated with tensile, flexural, and dynamic mechanical tests. Characterization results showed that mechanical and viscoelastic performance of 34% glass fiber reinforced PP can be obtained with 24% glass fiber, 10% microfibrillar rPET composites. Compatibilization effect of the maleic anhydride grafted PP (MA-g-PP) was studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed the formation of the rPET microfibrils in the hybrid matrix. Besides, composites with MA-g-PP compatibilizers showed significantly improved fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion on the SEM images.

Interfacially compatibilized PI/PDMS blends with reduced octadecylamine-functionalized graphene oxide: morphological and rheological properties.

We investigate the interfacial compatibilization effect of reduced octadecylamine-functionalized graphene oxide (ODA-GO) on the morphological and rheological properties of immiscible homopolymer blends of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyisoprene (PI). We prepared droplet-matrix blends with a PI : PDMS ratio of 30 : 70 or 70 : 30 and interfacially localized ODA-GO stabilizer loadings from 0.1% to 1%. Blends were examined by optical microscopy and rheometry. Both blends show typical droplet-matrix morphology with stabilized round drops that do not stick together. With the addition of ODA-GO, smaller drops were observed in PI-continuous blends as compared to the PDMS-continuous blends suggesting that the effects of particles are not symmetric in the two cases. At sufficiently high ODA-GO loadings, flow-induced coalescence is suppressed almost completely. Dynamic oscillatory rheology broadly confirms the morphological observations. Specifically, all the blends show an interfacial relaxation process that is distinct from the bulk viscoelasticity, and the dependence of this process on GO content and flow conditions confirms the compatibilizing effect of the ODA-GO. This work provides a strategy for interfacially-compatibilizated polymer blends with specific properties for practical applications.

Gelatinized and nongelatinized starch/pp blends: effect of starch source and carboxylic and incorporation

Due to the environmental impact caused by incorrect disposal and the non-biodegradability of synthetic polymers, the packaging sector seeks renewable raw materials. An alternative is the utilization of natural renewable polymer, such as thermoplastic starch (TPS), mixed with synthetics. However, the chemical incompatibility between these two materials leads to the use of a compatibilizer agent. Even though the compatibilizer effect of carboxylic acid on TPS blends have been studied, the correlation between the carboxylic acid and the starch source has not been investigated yet. Thus, this study focuses on the effects of added carboxylic acids (myristic (C14) and stearic (C18) acid) and the starch sources (corn, cassava, and potato) on the properties and microstructure of blends with TPS/PP (70/30). The results suggested that the compatibilizer effect of acids depends on the starch source and the length of the acid chain, where cassava blends with C14 showed better results. Acid insertion increased tensile strength and deformation at break, but reduced the elastic modulus, indicating a plasticizer effect. This behavior was related to the formation of amylose and lipid complexes (endogenous or added) during heating. Torque reduction and Tg displacement were also observed for acid blends. The SEM images showed two different morphological dispersions and a non-gelatinization effect due to the acid insertion. Results suggested that acids act differently according to the starch source.

Naphthalene-diimide-based all-conjugated block copolymer as an effective compatibilizer to improve the performance and thermal stability of all-polymer solar cells

A new donor–acceptor-type all-conjugated block copolymer, P(NDI-DBDT)-b-P(NDI-2T), is synthesized through the coupling of a naphthalene diimide (NDI)-bithiophene segment-based polymer and an NDI-dithienylbenzodithiophene (DBDT) segment-based polymer.

Morphology, Mechanical Properties and Shape Memory Effects of Polyamide12/Polyolefin Elastomer Blends Compatibilized by Glycidylisobutyl POSS.

Small amounts of glycidylisobutyl polyhedral oligomericsilsesquioxane (G-POSS) (up to 10 phr) were added into a immiscible polyamide12 (PA12)/polyolefin elastomer (POE) blend (70 wt%/30 wt%) by simple melt mixing. The effects of the G-POSS on phase morphology and mechanical properties were investigated by FE-SEM, tensile testing, Izod impact test and dynamic mechanical analysis. FE-SEM analysis revealed that domain size of the dispersed POE phase in matrix PA12 is decreased significantly by adding the G-POSS, indicating a compatibilization effect of the G-POSS for the immiscible PA12/POE blend. The PA12/POE blend compatibilized with POSS showed simultaneous enhancement in mechanical properties including tensile modulus, strength and toughness. Further, thermally triggered shape memory effect was observed in this compatibilized blend.

Reactive compatibilization and properties of low-cost and high-performance PBAT/thermoplastic starch blends

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is widely used for production of biodegradable films due to its high elongation, excellent flexibility and good processability properties. However, PBAT is costly with prices approximately double or even triple the prices of traditional plastics like polyethylene. Fully biodegradable PBAT/TPS blends are prepared through melt extrusion of PBAT and thermoplastic starch (TPS) to significantly reduced PBAT cost. Effects of reactive epoxy compatibilizer (REC) and preparation methods on morphology and properties of PBAT/TPS blends were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical analysis, rheological measurement, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential canning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Results indicated that REC effectively improves compatibility of PBAT/TPS blends and extends polymer chains of PBAT. Blends obtained through two-step extrusion showed a bicontinuous phase structure without phase separation or starch particles, which were observed in blends prepared through one-step extrusion. Excellent mechanical properties were obtained even with high contents of TPS through two-step extrusion in the presence of REC.