Incorporation Of Compatibilizer Research Articles

Effect of Compatibilizer and Organoclay Reinforcement on Morphology and Properties of Styrene Copolymer Blends

The blending of polymers leads to materials with the desired combined properties. These properties can further be improved by the incorporation of compatibilizer, organoclay, or both. In the present manuscript, the effects of compatibilizer and organoclay, as well as their combined use on the rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties of styrene copolymer blends, is examined. Styrene-containing copolymers blends were prepared by melt-mixing in a twin screw extruder. The addition of SAN into ABS decreases its thermal stability, whereas it increases its tensile strength and modulus. The incorporation of organoclay in ABS/SAN blends increases their viscosity and slightly improves their thermal stability and significantly improves the tensile and storage moduli. In PC/SAN blends, the SAN copolymer increases the flow rate, as well as the tensile strength and modulus of PC, whereas it decreases the thermal stability. The addition of ABS-g-MAH compatibilizer in PC/SAN blends increases the melt viscosity and maximum decomposition rate temperature of SAN phase, while it leads to the earlier decomposition of the PC phase. The incorporation of organoclay reinforcement enhances the thermal decomposition resistance of thes SAN phase. The opposite effect was recorded for the PC phase. The addition of organoclay enhances the elastic modulus of PC/SAN hybrids.

Reusing Ionomer Scraps as Impact Modifier in Polyamide 6

Blends of PA6 and ionomer scraps, with compositions ranging from 5 to 30 wt% ionomer without incorporation of compatibilizer, and blends with 10 and 20 wt% ionomer compatibilized with 2 wt% maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene copolymer (PEgMA) were obtained by extrusion. Their morphology (SEM), mechanical (tensile, flexural and impact tests) and thermal properties (HDT, DSC and TGA tests) were analyzed. The incorporation of ionomer in PA6 promoted an increase in strain at break and impact strength. PEgMA acted positively on these properties, increasing the interaction between the ionomer and PA6 phases. Tensile and flexural strength, tensile and flexural modulus decreased with increasing ionomer concentration. The compatibilizer acted significantly, reducing these properties. The crystallinity and melting temperature of PA6 were not influenced by the incorporation of ionomer and compatibilizer in the blends.

Environmentally Friendly Packaging Materials Based on Thermoplastic Starch

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is extensively used as packaging material, and as such has a short service life, but long environmental persistence. The alternative to reducing the impact of LDPE as packaging material on the environment is to blend it with carbohydrate-based polymers, like starch. Therefore, the focus of this investigation was to prepare bio-based blends of LDPE and thermoplastic starch (TPS) containing different amounts of TPS using a Brabender kneading chamber. Due to incompatibility of LDPE/ TPS blends, a styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene block copolymer, grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA) containing 2 mol % anhydride groups, was added as a compatibilizer. The effect of the biodegradable, hydrophilic TPS, its content, and the incorporation of the compatibilizer on the properties of LDPE/TPS blends were analysed. The characterization was performed by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and water absorption (WA). Based on the results of the morphological structure, a good dispersion of the TPS phase in LDPE matrix was obtained with the incorporation of compatibilizer, which resulted in better thermal and barrier properties of these materials.

Maleic anhydride‐modified polyolefins as compatibilizer for lignin‐reinforced polypropylene composites

Lignin is an attractive renewable reinforcing agent for polyolefins, which is also an excellent free‐radical scavenger and promising low‐cost antioxidant for polymers, however, exhibiting poor compatibility with non‐polar polymers. In this work, modified polyolefins containing maleic anhydride group like polybond (PB) were used as compatibilizer and incorporated into polypropylene (PP) with lignin to improve the blending ability of the polar filler in the non‐polar matrix. The composite containing individual lignin possesses a much smaller elongation at break than neat PP, whereas owing to the significantly improved dispersion by compatibilizer, the incorporation of compatibilizer into PP/lignin blends gives rise to remarkably increased elongation at break. Besides, lignin greatly slows down the UV‐induced degradation of PP and dramatically enhances anti‐oxidant effect of PP composites in the existence of compatibilizer, in which the elongation at break of PP/PB/2%lignin retains 77% of its original value when it reduces by 92% for neat PP after 240 h of UV irradiation. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2594–2601, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers

Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Itaconic Anhydride Grafted Poly(lactic acid) and Thermoplastic Protein Blends

Abstract Blends between Novatein thermoplastic protein and polylactic acid (PLA) have been prepared by reactive extrusion using itaconic anhydride grafted PLA. At equal proportions of Novatein and PLA, the absence of a compatibilizer formed a dispersed phase morphology of Novatein in PLA and the incorporation of compatibilizer formed a co-continuous morphology. Incorporating PLA in Novatein can improve the tensile strength of Novatein by 42% and the impact strength by 36% at an equal proportion blend (50/50) in the presence of a compatibilizer. Thermal analysis revealed that 50/50 was the phase inversion point, above and below this composition the material behaved similarly. The effect of compatibilizer was evident in wide-angle X-ray scattering. In the absence of compatibilizer three phases were detected: crystalline Novatein, amorphous Novatein, and amorphous PLA phases. With compatibilizer, the blend was moving towards two phases: crystalline Novatein, and an amorphous blend of Novatein and PLA. Itaconic anhydride grafted PLA improved miscibility between Novatein and PLA, and its use can potentially lead to the production of Novatein/PLA foams.

The Effect of Blending Sequence on Nanoclay Partitioning and Microfibrillar Morphology in Blend Nanocomposite Fibers

ABSTRACTThe aim of this article was to provide an insight into the effect of nanoclay partitioning on the droplet deformation and fibril formation in melt-compounded polypropylene/poly (butylene terephthalate)/organoclay blend nanocomposite fibers prepared by different blending sequences. An attempt was also made to investigate the effect of compatibilizer on the partitioning of nanoclay in these blend systems. Melt viscoelastic behavior, wide angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, along with scanning electron microscopy, revealed that the localization of nanoclay in the poly (butylene terephthalate) dispersed phase reduced the droplet deformation and fibril formation. It was demonstrated that the best microstructure of the blend nanocomposites for the fibrillation process was to have the maximum percentage of exfoliated nanoclay in both polymeric phases. Incorporation of compatibilizer can develop the microfibrillar morphology due to its assisting role in transferring a higher fraction of nanoclay platelets from droplets into the matrix and also increasing the extent of melt intercalation in the matrix.

Accelerated weathering properties of compatibilized composites made from recycled HDPE and nonmetallic printed circuit board waste

ABSTRACTThe main aim of this work is to examine the influence of the contents of nonmetallic printed circuit board (PCB) waste component on the photodegradation of recycled high‐density polyethylene (rHDPE) composites. The properties tested were chemical changes, flexural properties, color stability, water absorption, leaching properties, and crystallinity changes of the composites after exposure to 2,000 h of accelerated weathering. Surface degradation for composites with nonmetallic PCB was less compared to unfilled rHDPE mainly because glass fibers covered almost the whole surface of specimens, acting as a protective layer, thus, slowing down the photodegradation reaction. Incorporation of compatibilizer in rHDPE/PCB composites had played an important role in resisting degradation due to UV exposure. All the composite samples became lighter in the early stages of weathering exposure; however, compatibilized composites showed less lightening and reduction on strength and modulus. Carbonyl index increases with exposure time indicating that the oxidation reaction continuously occurred during the aging process. Incorporation of compatibilizer had successfully reduced the water absorption uptake by the composites and effectively delayed some degradation properties of weathering. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43110.

Polystyrene-block-poly(tert-butyl methacrylate)/multiwall carbon nanotube ternary conducting polymer nanocomposites based on compatibilizers: Preparation, characterization and vapor sensing applications

Abstract Environmental pollutants, especially volatile organic compounds (VOCs), often cause some serious health issues, and hence it is imperative to monitor and prevent the leakage and diffusion of these vapors. Nanomaterial based sensors are powerful tools in environmental monitoring. Since carbon nanotubes tend to spontaneously aggregate and entangle together, resulting in heterogeneous dispersion and poor properties, it is necessary to find some methods to overcome this shortcoming and to fully exploit their applications. In this paper, a novel multiwall carbon nanotube graft polystyrene-block-poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (MWNTs-g-PtBMA-b-PS) as a compatibilizer was designed and synthesized to construct polystyrene-block-poly(tert-butyl methacrylate)/MWNT (PS-b-PtBMA/MWNT) ternary conducting polymer nanocomposites and to fabricate into thin films to monitor chloroform vapor. The UV–vis, SEM and TEM investigations showed that the dispersion behavior of MWNTs was improved via incorporation of compatibilizer with various loading amounts. The nanocomposite thin films exhibited selective response to chloroform vapor, and the response patterns were influenced by the contents of compatibilizer and MWNTs and the analyte concentrations. The film sensors with compatibilizer exhibited excellent response, reproducibility and stability compared with those devoid of compatibilizer, and consequently they can be employed as a prospective candidate of chemical resistors or electronic noses for detection of chloroform vapor.

Compatibilization Efficiency of Reactively Modified Poly(butylene succinate) as a Compatibilizer for Poly(butylene succinate) Composites

The modified poly (butylene succinate) (PBS), namely, PBS-g-MA and PBS-g-GMA were prepared in order to be used as a compatibilizer for PBS composites. The grafting of maleic anhydride (MA) or glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto PBS was carried out using a twin-screw extruder. The grafting reactions were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis. Comparing with MA, it was found that GMA can be effectively grafted on PBS. The PBS-g-GMA was successfully used for PBS composites to enhance thermal properties. Furthermore, it was found that the incorporation of compatibilizer increased the melt viscosity of PBS composites.

Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Polylactic Acid/Recycled Low Density Polyethylene/<i>Nypa frutican</i><i>s</i> Biocomposites Compatibilized with Polyetylene-co-Acrylic Acid

The main purpose of incorporating Nypa Fruticans (NF) into Polylactic Acid (PLA)/Recycled Low Density Polyethylene (rLDPE) biocomposites is to decrease costs and change the properties. Polyethylene–co–acrylic acid (PEAA) was used as a compatibilizer. The effect of NF content and PEAA on the mechanical properties and morphology of the biocomposites were investigated. Results show that the effect of NF content increased Young’s modulus but decreased the tensile strength and elngation at break of PLA/rLDPE/NF biocomposites. It was found that incorporation of compatibilizer (PEAA) increased the tensile strength and Young’s modulus but decreased the elongation at break of compatibilized biocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of the tensile fracture surface of the biocomposites indicated that the presence of PEAA improved the interfacial interaction between Nypa Fruticans and LDPE matrix.

Exfoliation of organic montmorillonite in iPP free of compatibilizer through the multistage stretching extrusion

Polypropylene (PP)/organic montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites were first prepared through twin-screw extruder and then subjected to multistage stretching extrusion with an assembly of laminating-multiplying elements (LMEs, which divide and recombine polymer melts). The exfoliated efficiency of LMEs on OMMT dispersed in PP matrix was investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Because of the absence of compatibilizer, molecular chains of PP were not intercalated into the galleries of OMMT during the multistage stretching extrusion. The exfoliation of OMMT was induced by the strong force occurred in LMEs, which can destruct van der Waal’s interaction between the laminate OMMT platelets. The exfoliation degree of OMMT has been improved with the increase of number of LMEs used. The dispersion morphology of OMMT was thermodynamically stable after secondary melt processing. As a result, the mechanical properties of composites have been enhanced with increasing LME number. We realized the exfoliation of OMMT by the function of strong shear field without the incorporation of compatibilizer.

Development of HDPE/EPDM‐g‐TMEVS nanocomposites with enhanced electrical and flame properties

AbstractNanoclay reinforced HDPE/silane grafted EPDM composites have been developed using an epoxy functionalized HDPE as compatibilizer.The nanoclay has been varied from 0% to 10% in the composites along with the incorporation of compatibilizer and without compatibilizer in a brabender plasticorder.The dielectric and fire retardant properties of these nanocomposites have been examined. Addition of nanoclay enhanced char formation with increased values of limiting oxygen index. Electrical properties such as volume and surface Resistivity improved with addition of nanoclay and compatibilizer. The values of tan δ increased with increase in grafted EPDM and silanated nanoclay loading. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

Rheology, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of C18-CNT/LDPE Nanocomposites

Abstract Nanocomposites of low density polyethylene (LDPE)/C18 modified multi wall carbon nanotubes (C18-CNT) were prepared by melt blending. The effect of C18-CNT loading and compatibilizer (maleic anhydride modified polyethylene, MAPE) on the morphology, mechanical, thermal and rheological properties of LDPE was studied. FE-SEM images of nanocomposites show reduced agglomeration of the in LDPE/C18-CNT in comparison with uncompatibilized C18-CNT. For uncompatibilized nanocomposites, yield strength and Young's modulus increased with loading of C18-CNT. Ultimate strength, show improvement up to 2 wt% loading. However, percent elongation and toughness were reduced for C18-CNT at all loadings. Apart from elongation and toughness, addition of compatibilizer improved all mechanical properties as compared to pure LDPE and nanocomposites without compatibilizer. Percent crystallinity shows a correlation with Young's modulus. Both, Young's modulus and total crystallinity increased with C18-CNT loading and further increase with the incorporation of compatibilizer was observed. Results of phase angle suggest no presence of network. Also, addition of C18-CNT did not increase strain hardening, maintained extensional viscosity and time of break up to 1.5 s−1 Hencky rate. The C18 modifier is viewed to act similar to a long chain branching on linear polymers. The C18 modification of CNT resulted in reduced viscous and elastic properties of the composites. In turn, this is expected to lead to enhancement in the processing of these composites. Overall, compatibilized C18-CNT resulted in improved mechanical properties and better processing behavior.

Development and characterisation of HDPE/EPDM-g-TMEVS blends for mechanical and morphological properties for engineering applications

A novel graft copolymer of tris (2-methoxy eth- oxy) vinylsilane (TMEVS) onto ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) has been developed by grafting TMEVS using dicumyl peroxide as an initiator (EPDM-g- TMVES)in a Brabender plasticorder. Grafting of TMEVS onto EPDM has been ascertained using FTIR. Suitable interfacial compatibilizer was synthesized by grafting of HDPE with glycidyl methacrylate (HDPE-g-GMA) with benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The EPDM-grafted-TMEVS developed has been blended with different weight percent- age of HDPE, EPDM-g-TMEVS and nanoclay. The nano- clay was varied from 0 % to 10 % and with incorporation of compatibilizer and without compatibilizer in a brabender plasticorder. Different blend systems were prepared with compatibilizer and without compatibilizer with varying nanoclay and their thermal,mechnical and morphological properties were studied.

Superior reinforcement in polyamide 1010/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites realized by high‐rate drawing and incorporation of compatibilizer

AbstractTo realize the full potential of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in polymer/CNT nanocomposites, many complicated chemical treatments have been developed to modify the CNTs. Nevertheless, the reinforcing efficiency is still not satisfactory in most cases. In this study, a dramatically improved mechanical enhancement is obtained for polyamide 1010/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites simply by exerting high‐rate drawing and incorporating a commercially available compatibilizer. For the fibers prepared at high draw ratio, their tensile strength and modulus are improved by 137 and 132%, respectively, through adding only 0.5 wt% MWNTs. In particular, the increase in strength is at a very high level for the case of non‐covalent interaction since CNTs could be stretched to failure according to theoretical calculation. It is demonstrated that this reinforcement is mainly attributed to the compatibilizer inducing good dispersion, and the high‐rate drawing inducing strong interfacial interaction and orientation of MWNTs. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Mechanical properties and water absorption of kenaf powder filled recycled high density polyethylene/natural rubber biocomposites using MAPE as a compatibilizer

The performance of kenaf powder (KP) filled recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) /natural rubber (NR) blends with and without a compatibilizer, were investigated. The composites with different filler loading (0 to 40 phr) were prepared with a Haake internal mixer. Increasing the KP loading in rHDPE/NR/KP biocomposites reduced the tensile strength and the elongation at break but increased the stabilization torque and the tensile modulus. The addition of MAPE as a compatibilizer increased the tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus of the composites. This might be attributed to the enhanced adhesion between the filler and polymer matrix, as evidenced from the morphology, using scanning electron microscopy. The incorporation of compatibilizer also reduced the water absorption of the composites.

Mechanical and Rheological Properties of PA6/ABS Blends - With and Without Short Glass Fiber

Polyamide-6 (PA6), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), and their blends are an important class of engineering thermoplastics that are widely used for electronic and automotive industries. Many efforts have been made to improve the properties of both pure components and the blends. It was for this reason that the mechanical and rheological properties of PA6/ABS blend systems compatibilized by acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-maleic anhydride was studied. Short glass fiber was also used to enhance the compatibilized blends. The systems were prepared using a twin screw extruder. The specimens for mechanical test were molded using injection molding. The compatibilized blends showed higher mechanical properties compared to uncompatibilized blend. However, the impact strength reduced with the introduction of short glass fiber in the blends. The processing properties of the materials have been investigated using dynamic rheometer. The rheological measurements confirmed the increased in interaction between the blend components with the incorporation of compatibilizer. The incorporation of short glass fiber (SGF) into the compatibilized blends increased the storage and loss modulus as well as the viscosity of the blends.

An assessment of the role of morphology in thermal/thermo-oxidative degradation mechanism of PP/EVA/clay nanocomposites

In this study, morphological properties of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) (75/25 wt/wt) blend-based nanocomposites containing various amounts of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) were primarily investigated. The incorporation of compatibilizer into nanocomposites decreased EVA droplet size in PP matrix while increasing compatibilizer/OMMT ratio showed a dual behavior with respect to the variations of OMMT interlayer spacing. By a rough estimation it was found that at EVA droplet size of D n = 0.43 μm, the highest OMMT interlayer spacing would be acheived. Increasing D n had a negative effect on the OMMT interlayer spacing. Activation energy of thermal/thermo-oxidative degradation based on Flynn model was obtained. Isothermal degradation test was also performed and desired temperature range for predicting degradation behavior was obtained by means of a free prediction model. An attempt was made to establish a correlation between morphological and thermal/thermo-oxidative parameters and also charred residue morphology. A mechanism for degradation process was proposed according to the changes of chemical bonds during the degradation process probed by FTIR analysis.

Influence of PP‐g‐MA on morphology, mechanical properties and deformation mechanism of copolypropylene/clay nanocomposite

AbstractCopolypropylene/organoclay nanocomposites are prepared by melt intercalation method in this research. Two different routes for addition of compatibilizer are examined, i.e. addition in the twin‐screw extruder along with the polymer and the clay powder simultaneously and premixing the compatibilizer with the reinforcement in a batch mixer before addition to the polypropylene (PP) matrix. Morphology, tensile and impact properties and deformation mechanisms of the samples made via two procedures are studied and compared with those of the noncompatibilized system. To study the structure of nanocomposites, x‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy techniques are utilized. The deformation mechanisms of different samples are examined via reflected and transmitted optical microscopy. The results reveal that introduction of compatibilizer and also the procedure in which the compatibilizer is added to the compound, affect structure and mechanical properties of nanocomposite. The elastic modulus of PP‐clay nanocomposite has increased 11.5% with incorporation of compatibilizer. Also, introduction of organoclay without compatibilizer facilitates crazing at the notch tip of PP in 3PB testing. Incorporation of compatibilizer, however, makes difficulties in initiation and growth of crazes at the notch tip. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009

Study of morphology influence on rheological properties of compatibilized TPU/SAN blends

The compatibilizing efficiency of three different compatibilizers on the thermoplastic polyurethane/styrene-co-acrylonitrile (TPU/SAN) blends properties was investigated after compatibilizer's incorporation via melt-mixing. The compatibilizers studied were as follows: poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) of different molecular weight (Mw), a mixture of polystyrene-block-polycaprolactone (PS-b-PCL) and polystyrene-block-poly (methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA), and a mixture of polyisoprene-block-polycaprolactone (PI-b-PCL) and polybutadiene-block-poly (methyl methacrylate) (PB-b-PMMA). In our study, the effect of 5 wt % added compatibilizers on TPU/SAN blends morphology was examined. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the morphology at different length scales and to determine the compatibilizer's location. Investigations showed the different improvement of properties, because of the different incorporation of compatibilizers in the polymer blend. The morphology influence on the rheological behavior of compatibilized blends was investigated with a stress-controlled rheometer (Rheometric Dynamic Stress Rheometer, SR-500). Different compatibilization activity was found for different system. It was also found that compatibilization activity of added compatibilizer strongly depends on the comaptibilizer's Mw. Blends compatibilized with PCL showed superior properties as compared with the other examined blends. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 2303–2316, 2006