Reactive compatibilization of polyketone/ethylene-octene rubber blends by diaminodecane

The reactive compatibilization of polyketone (PK) and maleic anhydride (MA)-grafted ethylene-octane rubber (mEOR) blends by addition of 1,10-diaminodecane (DA) was studied. Effects of DA were evaluated through the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, melt flow index (MFI), morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties. FTIR spectra indicated that DA reacted with PK and mEOR during melt blending and produced the PKmEOR inter-polymers at the interface. The addition of DA was found to decrease the MFI value, diminished the size of the dispersed phase, and enhanced its adhesion with PK matrix. For PK/mEOR/DA system, while the tensile properties were changed little, the impact strength was three times those of PK/mEOR blends. SEM observations of the blend morphology indicated that the impact strength of PK/mEOR blend was primarily controlled by the matrix ligament thickness. [graphic not available: see fulltext]