Influence of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Contents on Properties and Crease Recovery of Slit Yarn from Polypropylene/High Density Polyethylene Blend

Polymer blends of polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) were prepared in a single screw extruder. The blend ratios of PP/HDPE were set at 80/20 and 50/50. Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) was used as a blend modifier at contents of 0, 1, 3 and 5 phr. PP/HDPE blends were fabricated to slit yarn by the single screw extruder equipped with slit die. The effects of PP/HDPE blend ratios and EVA contents on properties of the blends were analyzed. Melt flow index (MFI) of the blends decreased when incorporated with HDPE. DSC results showed two melting temperatures of PP and HDPE separately which indicated that these blends were immiscible at various contents of EVA. Crystallinity of PP in the blends increased with increasing HDPE contents with regardless on EVA contents. However, the crease recovery of the PP/HDPE blends slit yarn increased with increasing EVA contents. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd.