Reactive compatibilization of nylon copolymer/EPDM blends: experimental aspects and their comparison with theory

Abstract

In situ reactive compatibilization was first time applied to a low melting nylon (nylon 6 and 66 copolymer) and EPDM blend system. The effects of in situ compatibilization and concentration of compatibilizer on the morphology and mechanical properties of nylon/EPDM blends have been investigated. The influence of EPM-g-MA on the phase morphology was examined by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after preferential extraction of the minor phase. The SEM micrographs were quantitatively analyzed for domain size measurements. The compatibilizer concentrations used were 0, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 wt%. The graft copolymer (nylon-g-EPM) formed at the interface showed relatively high emulsifying activity. A maximum phase size reduction was observed when 2.5 wt% of compatibilizer was added to the blend system. This was followed by a leveling-off at higher loadings indicating interfacial saturation. The conformation of the compatibilizer at the interface was deduced based on the area occupied by the compatibilizer at the blend interface. The experimental compatibilization results were compared with theoretical predictions of Noolandi and Hong. It was concluded that the molecular state of compatibilizer at interface changes with concentration. The in situ compatibilized blends showed considerable improvement in mechanical properties. Measurement of tensile properties shows increased elongation as well as enhanced modulus and strength up on compatibilization. At higher concentrations of compatibilizer, a leveling-off of the tensile properties was observed. A good correlation has been observed between the mechanical properties and morphological parameters.

Compatible blends of polypropylene with an amorphous polyamide

“…The leveling off or decrease in mechanical properties above a critical compatibilizer content is common in polymer blends. 13,39,40 It is believed that below the optimum level, the interface is not saturated with compatibilizer. Above the optimum level, the compatibilizer saturates the interface, 16 and some compatibilizer stays outside the interface; this is not its function, and may lead to lower homogeneity of the whole blend.…”

Morphology and mechanical properties of ethylene‐vinyl acetate rubber/polyamide thermoplastic elastomers

“…Thermoplastic polyamide (PA)-based TPEs with nonpolar or polar rubbers as the second components, such as ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] ethylene-propylene rubber, 9 natural rubber, 10 butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] hydrogenated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, 18-21 acrylate rubber, [22][23][24] and halogenated butyl rubber 17,[25][26][27][28] have been investigated intensively by applying dynamic vulcanization technique, and the resultant PA-based TPEs have found wide applications in sports, transport, and construction areas.…”

Role of vinyl thiethoxy silane grafted onto fluororubber in compatibilization of fluororubber and silicone rubber blends

“…[11][12][13][14] The compatibilizers may be block, graft or random copolymers whose segments are chemically identical to or having affinity with the polymer components. [15][16][17][18][19][20] There has been much research about some compatibilizers applied in the polar and nonpolar polymer blends. Wootthikanokkhan and Tongrubbai 21 had reported that poly(isoprene-butyl acrylate) block copolymers were used as compatibilizers in natural/acrylic rubber blends.…”