Blending of immiscible polymers offers attractive opportunities for developing new

SynopsisThe grafting of maleic anhydride (MAn) to low density polyethylenes (PEs) dissolved in 1,2-dichlorobenzene ( DCB) has been studied. Grafting was successful a t temperatures of about 160°C both in air without initiator and under nitrogen with the radical initiator 2.5-di ( t-butylperoxy -2,5-dimethyl-3-hexyne (LPO). The presence of succinic anhydride grafts was shown by FTIR spectroscopy of the product; 'H-NMR spectroscopy indicates that the grafts consist of single succinic anhydride units. The graft content was determined by nonaqueous titration, and the extent of crosslinking inferred from the melt flow rates (MFR) of the products. The effects of concentration of initiator, MAn, and PE on the graft content were determined; the influence of PE structure, reaction time, and temperature was also studied. Melt blending of the grafted PE with polystyrene containing oxazoline functional groups (OPS) was investigated using a Rheomix mixer. The interpolymer reaction which occurs during blending was studied by means of FTIR, and the morphology of the blends by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Information was also gained from the change in torque viscosity during the blending process.

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The effects of cryogenically ground rubber tires (CGT) on some of the mechanical properties of blends with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) are presented. Precoating the CGT particles with an ethylene‐acrylic acid copolymer is shown to overcome most of the deleterious effects of adding CGT to LLDPE, while still retaining composite processability. A blend of 40 wt% EAA coated CGT particles with LLDPE is shown to have impact and tensile strengths that are 90% of those for the pure LLDPE, representing increases of 60 and 20%, respectively, over blends with uncoated particles. Blends of LLDPE with ground tire bladders demonstrate that even better mechanical properties can be obtained with similar large rubber particle size but somewhat better adhesion. For HDPE, however, it is shown that with large rubber particles, moderate adhesion is not sufficient to produce useful composites.