Study of Mechanical Properties and Morphology of PA 6/PO Blends Compatibilized by PO Grafted with Itaconic Acid

Abstract Two different types of polyolefine (PO) grafted with itaconic acid as a reactive compatibilizer, polypropylene (PP) grafted with itaconic acid (PP-g-ITA) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) grafted with itaconic acid (HDPE-g-ITA), PP and HDPE grafted with copolymer of itaconic acid and styrene (PP-g-(ITA-St) and HDPE-g-(ITA-St)) were prepared by melt graft technique through reactive type twin-screw extruder. FT-IR and thermal analysis were used to characterize the structure of the graft copolymer. The graft ratio (GR) and melt flow rate (MFR) were determined by non-aqueous titration and melt flow rate analyzer. The effect of the concentration of monomer and initiator dosage on GR and MFR of graft copolymer were studied. Then polyamide 6 (PA 6) blends, PA 6/PP (PA 6/HDPE), that compatibilized with PP-g-ITA (HDPE-g-ITA) were prepared. The morphology of the blends was analyzed by SEM, DSC and Molau tests and the mechanical properties of which were characterized by tensile, impact, and bend tests. The results of mechanical property showed that the impact strength of blends was increased by 50% and 70% after PP-g-ITA and HDPE-g-ITA was used as compatibilizer, but the MFR of blends was decreased. The SEM photographs indicated that the accession of compatibilizer obviously improved binding state between two phases in blends, the size of dispersed phase was reduced evidently and the interface became indistinct. DSC results demonstrated that in the case of PP-g-ITA, glass temperature (T g ) of PA 6 matrix in blends was ascended, melt point (T m ) was improved a little, crystallinity (X c ) was decreased, T m and X c of PP phase was increased; With the accession of HDPE-g-ITA, T m of PA 6 matrix and HDPE phase had almost no change, X c of PA 6 matrix was decreased and X c of HDPE phase was increased.