Blends Of Polyamide Research Articles

Dispersion, migration, and ‘network-like’ structure formation of multiwall carbon nanotubes in co-continuous, binary immiscible blends of polyamide 6 and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer during simultaneous melt-mixing

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were melt-mixed in polyamide 6 (PA6) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) copolymer blends using a simultaneous mixing protocol in order to investigate the state of dispersion of MWNTs in PA6/ABS blends. The blend composition was varied from 40/60 (wt/wt) to 60/40 (wt/wt) in PA6/ABS blends, which showed ‘co-continuous’ morphology in the presence of MWNTs. State of dispersion of MWNTs in these blends was assessed through bulk electrical conductivity measurements, morphological analysis, solution experiments, and UV-vis spectroscopic analysis. MWNTs were subsequently modified with a novel organic modifier, sodium salt of 6-aminohexanoic acid (Na-AHA), to improve the state of dispersion of MWNTs. Blends with unmodified MWNTs exhibited the DC electrical conductivity in the range ∼10−11 to ∼10−5 S/cm, whereas blends with Na-AHA-modified MWNTs exhibited DC electrical conductivity in the range ∼10−7 to ∼10−5 S/cm. The reduction in MWNTs ‘agglomerate’ size (∼73.7 μm for 40/60 blend with unmodified MWNTs to ∼59.9 μm in the corresponding blend with Na-AHA-modified MWNTs) was observed through morphological analysis. The rheological studies showed increased complex viscosity and storage moduli in lower frequency region in case of blends with Na-AHA-modified MWNTs confirming a refined ‘network-like’ structure of MWNTs. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:443–456, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers

Polyamide 6/Poly(ethylene terephthalate) 블렌드의 상분리 및 성질에 미치는 에폭시의 상용화 효과

In this study, an epoxy (bisphenol-A type) was selected as a reactive compatibilizer for enhancing the compatibility of immiscible blends of polyamide6(PA6) and poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET). These blends possess highly desirable qualities, such as low cost and increased moisture absorption, and can be used to construct practical polymer alloys. Using epoxy as a reactive compatibilizing agent, the compatible blends of PA6/PET/epoxy were successfully prepared through melt compounding using a twin-screw extruder. The domain size of PET decreased by a factor of two in the PA6 matrix with the epoxy. The effect of the epoxy on the melt viscosity, crystallization, and tensile properties of the blends indicates that the high-molecular weight epoxy can be an effective compatibilizer in PA6/PET blends.

Obtenção e Caracterização de Membranas Obtidas a Partir de Blendas Poliméricas de Poliamida 6

A mistura de polimeros diferentes possibilita a obtencao de novos materiais com propriedades, na maioria das vezes superiores as dos componentes puros. Essa mistura vem sendo utilizada e aplicada na obtencao de membranas com intuito de melhorar as propriedades de barreira para que se possa separar duas fases restringindo total ou parcialmente o transporte de uma ou varias especies quimicas presentes. Neste trabalho, membranas polimericas foram obtidas a partir de blendas de poliamida 6 (PA6), polipropileno (PP) e compatibilizantes pelo metodo de inversao de fases, com a finalidade de serem utilizadas em processos de separacao, purificacao, fracionamento e contracao. Estas foram estudadas por difracao de Raios-X (DRX), calorimetria exploratoria diferencial (DSC) e microscopia eletronica de varredura (MEV). Os resultados de DRX evidenciaram a presenca dos picos caracteristicos de reflexao da PA6, PP e dos compatibilizantes. Por DSC, observou-se que a presenca do compatibilizante nao promoveu alteracoes significativas na cristalinidade da PA6. Por meio das fotomicrografias de MEV, visualizou-se a obtencao de membranas microporosas assimetricas, como tambem percebeu-se que a presenca da segunda fase na PA6 modificou a morfologia das membranas.

Preparation of Polyamide 6/PE-g-MA/Compound by Recycled Rubber (SBRr) Blends

Polymer blends are better technological response to generate "new" high performance polymers from commercially available polymers and are an alternative to obtaining polymer materials with properties that generally are not found in a single material. The thermoplastic modified with elastomer and/or thermoplastic elastomers have attracted great interest from researchers and industries due to the attractive cost/benefit ratio and the possibility of a significant increase in the toughness of brittle polymers or temperatures subenvironment with the incorporation of a dispersed rubber phase. The destination of compound by recycled rubber has been one of the main problems faced by humanity, because its natural degradation occurs after a long time due to the presence of cross-links, stabilizers and other additives in their structure, causing damage to the environment. This study aimed to prepare blends of polyamide 6/PE-g-MA /compound by recycled rubber (SBRr).

Mechanical and anticorrosive properties of non toxic coal-tar epoxy alternative coating

Coal tar epoxy (CTE) coating system has been widely used for protection of steel structures under atmospheric, buried and immersion conditions because of their low water vapour permeability, high electrolyte resistance and good antibacterial properties. However, coal tar has been classified as carcinogen, mutagen and toxic for reproduction (CMR) as per International guideline (REACH, IARC and GS 11). It is now banned in the developed nations like US, Europe, Japan, etc. As the use of coal tar is being restricted, there is an urgent need to formulate a coal tar free epoxy product for corrosion protection of structures. In the present study, alternative approaches have been proposed to replace coal tar such as bitumen (BIT), hydrocarbon resin (HR), flexibilizer (FL) and curing agents like polyamide (PAD) or polyamine (PAM). Four different coal tar free formulations were formulated separately by using these approaches. The standard CTE and coal tar free epoxy compositions were evaluated for mechanical properties such as elongation at break, tensile strength, adhesion strength and resistance to abrasion, impact and flexibility. The resistance to corrosion of optimized composition (epoxy-HR-FL-PAD-PAM) and coal tar epoxy coating was evaluated by exposing to different environments. The corrosion resistance property was also evaluated by cathodic disbondment and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. Results indicate that epoxy-hydrocarbon resin-flexibilizer composition cured with blend of polyamide and polyamine has comparable mechanical and corrosion protection properties to that of standard CTE.

Toughening of PA6 nanocomposites by reactive acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene core–shell rubber particles

The effect of addition of organoclay and the reactive ABS‐g‐MA core‐shell particles on the mechanical properties and morphology of blends of polyamide (PA6) were reported. The reactive rubber particles with core‐shell structure were selected as modifier instead of conventional reactive bulk rubber. The microstructure of the ternary nanocomposites was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Impact strength and stress–strain behavior of blends were measured as a function of organoclay content and core/shell ratio of ABS‐g‐MA. The organoclay plates affected the interfacial adhesion between polyamide and the core‐shell particles because of a shielding effect of organclay on the interacting of amine end groups of PA6 with the MA groups of ABS‐g‐MA. The poor dispersion behavior of ternary nanocomposites was observed when the core/shell ratio is 80/20, and with an increase of organoclay content, the core/shell dispersed phase size increased. Blends based on the maleated elastomer with the core/shell ratio 60/40 gave a more beneficial balance of toughness versus stiffness. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:864–871, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers

Encapsulated phase structure and morphology evolution during quiescent annealing in ternary polymer blends with PA6 as matrix

ABSTRACTThis work is aim to study the encapsulated morphology development in ternary blends of polyamide 6/high density polyethylene/maleic anhydride‐grafted‐ethylene propylene diene monomer (PA6/HDPE/EPDM‐g‐MA) and polyamide 6/maleic anhydride‐grafted‐high density polyethylene/ethylene propylene diene monomer (PA6/HDPE‐g‐MA/EPDM) through thermodynamically control described by Harkins spreading theory. The phase morphology was confirmed by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and selective solvent extraction revealed that PA6/HDPE/EPDM‐g‐MA blend having a composition of 70/15/15 vol % is constituted of polyamide 6 matrix with dispersed composite droplets of HDPE subinclusions encapsulated by EPDM‐g‐MA phase, while for PA6/HDPE‐g‐MA/EPDM blend with the same composition is constituted of polyamide 6 matrix with dispersed composite droplets of HDPE‐g‐MA subinclusions encapsulated by EPDM phase. Quiescent annealing test revealed that for PA6/HDPE/EPDM‐g‐MA blend, a perfect core–shell structure with one HDPE particle encapsulated by EPDM‐g‐MA phase was formed during annealing, and for PA6/HDPE‐g‐MA/EPDM blend, a novel complete inverting HDPE‐g‐MA/EPDM core/shell structure was achieved. Moreover, quantitative analysis about coalescent behaviors of HDPE‐g‐MA and HDPE subinclusions during quiescent annealing were investigated by image analysis and the result suggested that the grafted maleic anhydride group in HDPE‐g‐MA, acted as a role of steric repulsion, could suppress coalescence effects, thus leaded to a lower coalescent rate than that of HDPE subinclusions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39937.

Study on the Poly (ether sulfone) Microfibers

Microfibers have huge potential applications in many fields due to their unique properties. However, the high performance thermoplstic microfibers were rarely reported. In this work, Poly (ether sulfone) Microfibers were first successfully prepared by melt extrusion of immiscible blends of PES, Polyamide 6 ( PA6 ), and subsequent removal of PA6 component. The morphologies of the PES microfibers were characterized by SEM. The experimental results showed the PES microfibers exhibited interconnected structures between the fibers and the average diameter was about 150 nm. The present PES microfiber may be applied to the development of ultrafiltration membranes materials.

The influence of nanosilica on the nucleation, crystallization and tensile properties of PP–PC and PP–PA blends

Immiscible blends of 80 wt% polypropylene (PP) with 20 wt% polyamide (PA) or polycarbonate (PC) were prepared by melt mixing with or without the addition of 5% nanosilica. The nanosilica produced a strong reduction of the disperse phase droplet size, because of its preferential placement at the interface, as demonstrated by TEM. Polarized Light Optical Microscopy (PLOM) showed that adding PA, PC or combinations of PA–SiO2 or PC–SiO2 affected the nucleation density of PP. PA droplets can nucleate PP under isothermal conditions producing a higher nucleation density than the addition of PC or PC–SiO2. PLOM was found to be more sensitive to determine differences in nucleation than non-isothermal DSC. PP developed spherulites, whose growth was unaffected by blending, while its overall isothermal crystallization kinetics was strongly influenced by nucleation effects caused by blending. Addition of nanosilica resulted in an enhancement of the strain at break of PP–PC blends whereas it was observed to weaken PP–PA blends.

Development of Polyamide 6/Compound by Recycled Rubber Blends Using Graphitized Polyethylene or Polypropylene with Maleic Anhydride as Compatibilizer Agent

The toughening of polyamide 6 is desirable for many applications and may be obtained by adding a phase to the elastomeric matrix. However, this leads to a loss in its rigidity characteristics. Therefore, this study aimed at developing blends of polyamide 6/compound by recycled rubber (SBR-R), with the addition of compatibilizer graphitized polyethylene and polypropylene with maleic anhydride method by mixing in the molten state in order to obtain a balance between stiffness and toughness. The systems were prepared in several compositions, and their rheological properties and spectroscopy in the Fourier transform infrared were studied by means of rheological curves obtained in an internal mixer of Haake Buchler. The results obtained with the rheological study and Fourier transform infrared showed that mixtures of polyamide 6/graphitized polyethylene with maleic anhydride presented the best results compared to those of polyamide 6/ graphitized polypropylene with maleic anhydride, probably indicating reaction between the components. Thus, it was chosen graphitized polypropylene with maleic anhydride as a compatibilizing agent for carrying out other characterizations. Blends of polyamide 6/compound by recycled rubber/ graphitized polypropylene with maleic anhydride and their properties were analyzed by means of mechanical tests (tensile and impact), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The impact strength and elastic modulus of the blends compatibilized reduced somewhat when compared to polyamide 6. Therefore, these results indicate a good prospect of application of industrial waste, minimizing the negative effect on the environment and adding value to a disposable material.

Influence of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Trapped at the Interface of an Immiscible Polymer Blend on Interfacial Tension

AbstractThe influence on interfacial energy of multiwall unfunctionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) trapped at the interface of an immiscible blend of polyamide 12 (PA12) and acrylate‐ethylene (EA) copolymer is investigated with the help of the Palierne model combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. It is found that the interfacial energy is unaffected by the interfacially trapped CNTs. The reduced droplet size observed in the presence of CNTs can neither be ascribed to a classical compatibilizer effect due to lower interfacial energy leading to enhanced breakup during processing, nor to the minute changes of the continuous phase viscosity induced by the CNTs. Another explanation based on steric hindrance is proposed. A network CNT layer that acts as a rigid shell is formed, which prevents coalescence of colliding droplets.

Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polyamide 6/HDPE-g- MAH/High Density Polyethylene

Blending of polyamide 6/high density polyethylene (PA6/HDPE=70/30 wt%) was prepared by melt compounding using a twin screw extruder followed by injection molding using HDPE-g-MAH served as compatibilizer. A series combination of PA6/HDPE with HDPE-g-MAH were blended with varied composition of 100/0, 98/2, 96/4, 94/6 and 92/8. The mechanical properties of the samples such as tensile test, flexural test and elongation at break were measured by universal tensile machine while hardness was measured using the Zwick Roell hardness tester. The composites were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA). The addition of HDPE-g-MAH (2wt%) showed increased in modulus, strength and hardness but elongation at break decreased. DSC tests showed similar trend for all compositions. All mechanical tests also showed that composition of 98% PA6/HDPE with 2% HDPE-g-MAH has the highest value indicated best formulation for this research.

Compatibilization and toughening of immiscible ternary blends of polyamide 1010, polypropylene, and ABS resin

Abstract The ternary blends of three versatile polymers of polyamide 1010 (PA1010), polypropylene (PP), and ABS resin (ABS) were studied. As a compatibilizer, PP was multimonomer melt grafted in the presence of maleic anhydride (MAH), styrene (St), and dicumyl peroxide. The effects of multimonomers melt grafting blends of MAH and St on the crystallization behavior, morphology, and mechanical properties of PA1010/ABS/PP blends were investigated. The results showed that the graft copolymer generated in situ by the anhydride groups of grafted PP (g-PP) and the amino end of PA1010 has reduced the interfacial tension of blends efficiently. The interaction of St groups of the graft copolymer with ABS was helpful to improve the compatibility of the three components during melt blending process. The size of dispersed phases in the blends was reduced remarkably and the mechanical pro­perties were greatly improved when the content of g-PP in PA1010/ABS/PP blends is increased to 10%. The tensile strength of the compatibilized PA1010/ABS/PP blends was improved by a factor of 11.7, whereas the impact strength and elongation at break were increased by 4 and 4.9 times, respectively. The introduction of multimonomer melt g-PP is shown to be an effective approach to modifying immiscible multipolymer blends, which have many potential applications.

Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Compatibilized Bio-sourced PA/Plasticized Starch Grafted PP Ternary Polymer Blends

AbstractPolymer blends of biosourced polyamide (Rilsan XD) and thermoplastic starch grafted polypropylene (LAB4270) were processed by means of a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, using a solid epoxy resin (D.E.R. 664UE) as a compatibilizer. Morphologies as well as rheological, thermal and mechanical properties of the blends were characterized. The morphology of the reference blend was characterized by nodules of the micron order of magnitude of the dispersed phase (LAB4270) embedded in the polyamide matrix. Even though the morphologies of the blends were not impacted by the addition of the epoxy resin, the mechanical properties as well as the impact resilience were proved to be enhanced. The thermal properties of the blends were as well influenced. A shift of the crystallization temperatures and a decrease of the crystallization enthalpies of both the polypropylene and the PA XD were observed. Thus the addition of the epoxy resin as compatibilizer had proved to be truly effective to obtain a material mostly biosourced with mechanical properties that tend towards combined optimal properties of the different components of the blend.

Melt-neutralization of maleic anhydride grafted on high-density polyethylene compatibilizer for polyamide-6/high-density polyethylene blend: effect of neutralization level on compatibility of the blend

Blends of polyamide-6 (PA-6) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with blend ratios of 80/20 (wt/wt) and 20/80 (wt/wt) were studied using zinc-neutralized maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted HDPE as compatibilizers. MAH groups were hydrolyzed and neutralized with different amounts of zinc acetate dihydrate in a twin-screw extruder to produce different levels of zinc-neutralization (0, 14, 41, 69, and 95 %) at one and ten parts per hundred of resin of compatibilizer. Melt neutralization of MAH was confirmed by X-ray fluorescence, FT–IR, and rheological properties. SEM micrographs showed a large reduction in the dispersed phase size in the compatibilized blends. Tensile measurements showed improvement of tensile strength for all compatibilized blends; moreover, the elongation at break of compatibilized blends at 10 phr of compatibilizer was improved. Blending increased the crystallization temperature for the PA-6, and the addition of compatibilizer reduced the crystallization temperature slightly. A significant increase in melt viscosity of the compatibilizer was found with zinc addition and adding compatibilizer increased the viscosity of the blends. However, the addition of zinc to the compatibilizer did not change the viscosity in the PA-6-rich blends and actually led to a decrease in viscosity in the HDPE-rich blends.

Morphology and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy of ternary polymer blends of polyamide6, polypropylene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene co‐polymer: Influence of compatibilizer and multiwall carbon nanotubes

AbstractMorphological investigation was carried out with melt‐mixed ternary polymer blends of polyamide6 (PA6), polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) in the presence of compatibilizer and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). 80/10/10 (wt/wt/wt) PA6/PP/ABS and 80/10/10 (wt/wt/wt) PP/PA6/ABS blends exhibited “core‐shell” morphology, whereas 80/10/10 (wt/wt/wt) ABS/PP/PA6 blends exhibited “separately dispersed” phase morphology. The type of phase morphology was unaltered in the presence of either compatibilizer or MWNTs in the respective ternary polymer blends. The morphological refinement in the presence of compatibilizer was explained on the basis of melt‐interfacial reaction. In contrast, the refinement in the dispersed droplets in the presence of MWNTs was due to the localization of MWNTs in the specific phase. Dynamic relaxation spectroscopic analysis indicated an increase in the relaxation time of PA6 chain in the presence of compatibilizer in the corresponding ternary blends. The variation in the relaxation time was dependent on the efficiency of the compatibilizer. The variation in the relaxation time for PA6 in the presence of 1 wt% MWNTs in the respective ternary blends also followed a similar trend; however, the extent of mobility of PA6 phase was influenced by the state of dispersion of MWNTs in the corresponding blends. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

A study on the relationship between preparation condition and properties/performance of polyamide TFC membrane by IR, DSC, TGA, and SEM techniques

High-performance thin-film composite polyamide membranes for inorganic solute separation were prepared by the interfacial polymerization of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) with diethylenetriamine, 1,3-cyclohexanebis(methylamine), 2,3-diaminopyridine (DAP), m-phenylenediamine (MPD), piperazine (PIP) or a mixture of MPD and PIP/DAP, on the surface of a reinforced microporous polyethersulfone (PES) membrane support. The polyamide skin layers were isolated by dissolving the PES support in dichloromethane and the characteristics of the free skin layers were studied by infrared spectroscopy (IR), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. It was attempted to correlate the observed flux and rejection properties of the membranes with their preparation conditions such as reactant concentrations, reaction time, curing temperature etc. The glass transition temperatures (Tgs) of PES and polyamide blends are dependent on the concentration of the monomers (TMC/diamine) that are used for polyamide skin formation. An increasing trend in Tg values was observed with an increase in the concentration of TMC/diamine. The TGA thermograms show that the initial decomposition temperatures of the PES and polyamide blends are in the range of 330–400°C, which is about 20–90°C lower than that of PES (420°C). SEM images display that the top polyamide skin surface presents a honeycomb-like structure and the cross-section image of the membranes clearly displays the presence of a nodular structure that arises from the dense polyamide skin. In between the nodules, there are pore channels that traverse up to the polyester support. The stability of a polyamide skin layer strongly depends on the preparation conditions such as concentrations of the reactants and skin layer formation conditions such as the reaction time. A higher concentration of the acid chloride (TMC > 0.5%) results in the formation of a low molecular weight amide–acid [HOOC-(Ar-COHN-X-NHOC-Ar)n-COOH] skin layer, whereas a higher concentration of amine (Amine > 4%) produces a low molecular weight amide–amine [H2N-(X-NHOC-Ar-COHN-X)n-NH2] skin layer, as observed by the IR spectra, which are unstable for performance evaluation. The performance, i.e. rejection and water flux, of the composite membranes is strongly dependent on the chemical nature of the reactants used for the formation of polyamide skin, and on the skin layer preparation conditions such as concentrations of the reactants, curing time, and curing temperature. The relationship between the preparation conditions of polyamide skin and performance of the membranes was measured using 2,500 ppm feed solutions of NaCl and Na2SO4 at an operating pressure of 10 kg/cm2. Membranes having a wide range of performances ranging from reverse osmosis to nanofiltration to ultrafiltration can be obtained due to the synergistic effects by utilization of aromatic and aliphatic amine mixtures for the formation of polyamide skin layer.

The effect of thermal history of polyamide 6 on the crystallization and melting behavior of β-nucleated polypropylene/polyamide 6 blends

It has been proved that the effect of amorphous polymer as the second component on the β-nucleating effect of β-nucleated isotactic polypropylene (iPP) blends was less than that of the crystalline polymers. We guess that it is the crystallinity of the second component that affects the β-nucleating effect. In order to prove this hypothesis, the blends of β-nucleated iPP and polyamide 6 (PA6) were prepared by melt compounding in this study. Cooling rate, crystallization temperature, crystallization time, annealing temperature and annealing time were used to control the crystallinity of PA6 phase, and the effect of PA6 crystallinity on the crystallization and melting behavior was studied, in turn its effect on the β-nucleating effect of iPP phase was explored. The results indicated that β crystal content markedly decreased with the increase of PA6 crystallinity, which proved that PA6 crystallinity controls the α-nucleating effect and suppresses the β-nucleating effect of the β-nucleating agent in the β-nucleated iPP blends, leading to a significant decrease in β crystal content. Therefore, decreasing the crystallinity of the second component in the β-nucleated iPP blends is a feasible method to weaken α-nucleating effect of the second component and an effective way to obtain β-nucleated iPP blend with high β crystal content.

Effect of annealing temperature on the mechanical properties, thermal behavior and morphology of β-iPP/PA6 blends

The correlations between the mechanical properties and microstructures of annealed pure polymers after annealing have been investigated extensively. However, the effect of annealing on the microstructures and properties of polymer blends were rarely studied. In this work, the effect of annealing temperatures (Ta) on the blend of β-form isotactic polypropylene (β-iPP) and polyamide 6 (PA6) was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Both DSC and WAXD results showed that low content of β nucleating agent induced both β1 and β2 melting peaks of β-iPP; the melting peak of β2-iPP disappeared at the Ta of 130°C; at even higher Ta (above 150°C), β-iPP disappeared because of the β to α transition. The flexural modulus and yield strength of β-iPP/PA6 blends increase at high Ta (above 130°C), but the impact strength does not improve distinctly at the whole range of Ta studied due to the poor interfacial interaction between iPP and PA6.

Mechanical and shape‐memory properties of polyamide/maleated polyethylene/linear low‐density polyethylene blend

AbstractNovel polymer blends of polyamide and linear low‐density polyethylene with maleated polyethylene as compatibilizers were prepared in a modular intermeshing corotating twin‐screw extruder. Polymer blends with different contents of polyamide in polyethylene matrix were obtained. The mechanical properties were studied in terms of the tensile strength and elongation‐to‐break. The shape‐memory properties of the blended materials were characterized using three‐point bending test in a temperature‐controlled chamber. The results show that the incorporation of maleated polyethylene has a strong effect on the tensile properties and the morphology of the blends. The shape‐memory effect of blended materials is affected by polyamide weight fraction, and 60 wt % polyethylene, 20 wt % polyamide, and 20% maleated polyethylene have an acceptable performance. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012