Compatibilization of polypropylene/nylon 6 blends with a polypropylene solid-phase graft

The compatibilization of polypropylene (PP)/nylon 6 (PA6) blends with a new PP solid-phase graft copolymer (gPP) was systematically studied. gPP improved the compatibility of PP/PA6 blends efficiently. Because of the reaction between the reactive groups of gPP and the NH2 end groups of PA6, a PP-g-PA6 copolymer was formed as a compatibilizer in the vicinity of the interfaces during the melting extrusion of gPP and PA6. The tensile strength and impact strength of the compatibilized PP/PA6 blends obviously increased in comparison with those of the PP/PA6 mechanical blends, and the amount of gPP and the content of the third monomer during the preparation of gPP affected the mechanical properties of the compatibilized blends. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy indicated that the particle sizes of the dispersed phases of the compatibilized PP/PA6 blends became smaller and that the interfaces became more indistinct in comparison with the mechanical blends. The microcrystal size of PA6 and the crystallinity of the two components of the PP/PA6 blends decreased after compatibilization with gPP. The compatibilized PP/PA6 blends possessed higher pseudoplasticity, melt viscosity, and flow activation energy. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.