Compatibilizers based on polypropylene grafted with itaconic acid derivatives. Effect on polypropylene/polyethylene terephthalate blends

Abstract

New types of compatibilizers based on functionalized polypropylene (PP) were synthesized by radical melt grafting either with monomethyl itaconate or dimethyl itaconate. The effect of these new modified PP compounds were tested as compatibilizers in PP/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) blends. Blends with compositions 15/85 and 30/70 by weight of PP and PET were prepared in a single‐screw extruder. Morphology of the compatibilized blends revealed a very fine and uniform dispersion of the PP phase as compared with that of noncompatibilized blends of the same composition, leading to improved adhesion between the two phases. Whereas dimethyl itaconate derived agent showed less activity, the monomethyl itaconate parent compound showed an increase of the impact resistance of PET in PP/PET blend. This was attributed to the hydrophilic nature of the monomethyl itaconate part of this compatibilizer. The tensile strength of PET in noncompatibilized blends gradually decreases as the PP content increases, while blends containing functionalized PP exhibited higher values.

Compatibilization of polypropylene/ poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blends

“…14,22,26 Within these later studies, compatibilization could be achieved after the addition of a small amount of epoxy to the PP/PBT/poly(propylene-gmaleic anhydride) (PP-MAH) system. 26 Other compatibilizers found to be used in polyolefin/polyester systems include PP grafted with phenol formaldehyde, 29 isocyanate 30 and itaconate groups, 31 liquid-crystalline ionomers and polymers, 32,33 epoxidized ethylene propylene diene rubber, 34 and bismaleimide 35 and silane 36 molecules. These publications reported the existence of specific interactions between those materials and PET or PBT that caused some level of blend compatibilization.…”

Mechanical properties of PET composites using multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized by inorganic and itaconic acids

“…Regarding itaconic acid, this organic compound has been used as compatibilizer for blends of thermoplastic polymers [23,24]. Yazdani-Pedram et al [23] used PP functionalized with itaconic acid as compatibilizer in blends of PP/PET. They found that the presence of modified PP improves the tensile mechanical properties of PP/PET blends.…”

Grafting

“…56 Dimethyl itaconate as compatibilizer derived agent exhibits only a small activity to increase the impact resistance of PET in PP/PET blend.…”