Influence of Electron Beam Irradiation on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polypropylene/Polyamide6 Blends

This article investigates the effects of electron beam irradiation on the mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene/polyamide6 blends (45/55) with talc 20% (w/w) as filler, SEBS-g-MAH 5% (w/w) as compatibilizer, and 10 phr triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC). TAIC is a polyfunctional monomer and acts as a crosslinking agent. Although the tensile and flexural moduli and strengths of the PP/PA6 blends with talc, SEBS-g-MAH, and TAIC were increased by the application of electron beam irradiation, the impact strength was decreased. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed that the melting temperatures and the degree of crystallinity decreased for all PP/PA6 blends as the electron beam irradiation dose increased, because of the number of structural defects in each crystalline phase. From dynamic mechanical analyzer results, a storage modulus curve in the plateau region was observed only in the PP/PA6 blends with talc, SEBS-g-MAH, and TAIC. The modulus increased with increasing electron beam irradiation dose, indicating that the three-dimensional network developed gradually in the more amorphous PA6. Consequently, the most significant improvement to heat distortion under high load (1.8MPa) was observed at 200 kGy. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4318-4326, 2013