Toughening and compatibilization of polypropylene/polyamide‐6 blends with a maleated–grafted ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate

In this article, maleated–grafted ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate (EVA‐g‐MA) was used as the interfacial modifier for polypropylene/polyamide‐6 (PP/PA6) blends, and effects of its concentration on the mechanical properties and the morphology of blends were investigated. It was found that the addition of EVA‐g‐MA improved the compatibility between PP and PA6 and resulted in a finer dispersion of dispersed PA6 phase. In comparison with uncompatibilized PP/PA6 blend, a significant reduction in the size of dispersed PA6 domain was observed. Toluene‐etched micrographs confirmed the formation of interfacial copolymers. Mechanical measurement revealed that the addition of EVA‐g‐MA markedly improved the impact toughness of PP/PA6 blend. Fractograph micrographs revealed that matrix shear yielding began to occur when EVA‐g‐MA concentration was increased upto 18 wt %. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99:3300–3307, 2006     

Synthesis of polypropylene‐grafted graphene and its compatibilization effect on polypropylene/polystyrene blends

Polypropylene‐graft‐reduced graphene oxide (PP‐g‐rGO) was synthesized and used as a novel compatibilizer for PP/polystyrene (PP/PS) immiscible polymer blends. SEM observation revealed an obvious reduction of the average diameter for the dispersed PS phase with the addition of PP‐g‐rGO into a PP/PS (70/30, w/w) blend. The compatibilization effect of PP‐g‐rGO will subsequently lead to the enhancement of the tensile strength and elongation at break of the PP/PS blends. The compatibilizing mechanism should be ascribed to the fact that PP‐g‐rGO can not only adsorb PS chains on their basal planes through π‐π stacking but also exhibit intermolecular interactions with PP through the grafted PP chains. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40455.     

Rheology‐morphology correlation in PET/PP blends: Influence of type of compatibilizer

Rheological and morphological properties of melt processed poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/polypropylene (PP) blends are presented. Two types of compatibilizer namely, PP‐g‐MA <MA= maleic anhydtide> and Elvaloy PTW, an n‐butyl acrylate glycidyl methacrylate ethylene terpolymers, were incorporated at different levels to the PET/PP blend system. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the dispersed particle sizes were smaller in PET‐rich blends than PP‐rich blends. With increasing compatibilizer level, the refinement of morphology was observed in both the systems. However, the blends compatibilized with PTW showed a more refined (smaller) particle size, and at high PTW content (10 wt%), the morphology changed towards monophasic. The significant changes in morphology were attributed to the highly reactive nature of PTW. Investigation of rheological properties revealed that the viscosity of the PET/PP blends followed typical trends based on mixing rule, which calculates the properties of blends based on a linear average. Incorporation of PP‐g‐MA into the blends resulted in a negative deviation in the viscosity of the system with respect to that of the neat blend. With increasing PP‐g‐MA level, the deviation became more pronounced. Although incorporation of the compatibilizer into the PET/PP blends refined the morphology, it led to a drastic drop of viscosity, which could be attributed to inherently lower molecular weight of the compatibilizer. In the case of the blends compatibilized by PTW, a strong positive deviation in rheological properties was observed that confirmed the stronger interaction between the blend components due to reactive compatibilization process, which led to the more refined morphology in this series of blends. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 19:25–30, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of ionomer on clay dispersions in polypropylene‐layered silicate nanocomposites

In this study, polypropylene (PP)/clay nanocomposites containing different concentrations of ethylene‐methacrylic acid ionomer (i.e. Surlyn®) were prepared, and the effect of ionomer on clay dispersion was studied via WAXD, rheology, SEM, and TEM. The role of the ionomer in the nanocomposites was compared with that of maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP‐g‐MA), which has been widely used as a compatibilizer in making PP/clay nanocomposites. With an increase in the concentration of compatibilizer, the position of d₀₀₁ peak of OMMT shifted toward a lower angle for PP‐g‐MA system, while the position remained almost unchanged for Surlyn system, in which a larger interlayer spacing (d₀₀₁) was found with respect to the former. In rheology, the addition of the ionomer led to a gradual increase in both moduli and complex viscosity, and the nonterminal behavior at low frequency was observed in both systems. In addition, the ternary hybrid containing 20 wt % Surlyn achieved the largest enhancement in relative viscosity, which was more than that of the nanocomposite prepared from pure Surlyn or pure PP, presumably indicative of the existence of strong interaction between the components. Finally, SEM and TEM micrographs demonstrated that exfoliated structure was preferred for PP/Surlyn/OMMT hybrids, while intercalated morphology for PP/PP‐g‐MA/OMMT. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 4024–4034, 2007     

Differential scanning calorimetric and free volume study of reactive compatibilization by EPM‐g‐MA of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/EPDM blends

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and positron annihilation lifetime measurements have been carried out to study the effect of the compatibilizer maleic anhydride grafted ethylene propylene copolymer (EPM‐g‐MA) in poly trimethylene terephthalate and ethylene propylene diene monomer (PTT/EPDM) immiscible blends. The DSC results for the blends of 50/50 and 30/70 compositions show two clear glass transition temperatures, indicating that the blends are two‐phase systems. With the addition of compatibilizer, the separation between the two glass transitions decreased, suggesting an increased interaction between the blend components with compatibilizer. At 5 wt % of compatibilizer, the separation between the T_gs reduced in both 50/50 and 30/70 blends. The positron results for the blends without compatibilizer showed an increase in relative fractional free volume, as the EPDM content in the blend is increased. This suggests the coalescence of free volume of EPDM with the free volumes of PTT due to phase separation. However, the effect of compatibilizer in the blends was clearly seen with the observed minimum in free volume parameters at 5% of the compatibilizer, further suggesting that this percent of compatibilizer seems to be the optimum value for these blends. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 740–747, 2006     

Crystallization behavior of PP/PP‐g‐MAH/GFR PA66 blends: Establishment of their continuous‐cooling‐transformation of relative crystallinity diagrams

Polypropylene/polypropylene‐grafted‐maleic anhydride/glass fiber reinforced polyamide 66 (PP/PP‐g‐MAH/GFR PA 66) blends‐composites with and without the addition of polypropylene‐grafted‐maleic anhydride (PP‐g‐MAH) were prepared in a twin screw extruder. The effect of the compatibilizer on the thermal properties and crystallization behavior was determined using differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The hold time was set to be equal to 5 min at 290°C. These conditions are necessary to eliminate the thermomechanical history in the molten state. The crystallization under nonisothermal conditions and the plot of Continuous‐Cooling‐Transformation of relative crystallinity diagrams of both PP and PA 66 components proves that PP is significantly affected by the presence of PP‐g‐MAH. From the results it is found that an abrupt change is observed at 2.5 wt % of PP‐g‐MAH as a compatibilizer and then levels off. In these blends, concurrent crystallization behavior was not observed for GFR PA66. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1620–1626, 2007     

Reactive mixing of PET and PET/PP blends with glycidyl methacrylate–modified styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐olefin) block copolymers

Styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene (SEBS) and styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐propylene) (SEP, SEPSEP) block copolymers with different styrene contents and different numbers of blocks in the copolymer chain were functionalized by melt radical grafting with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and employed as compatibilizers for PET‐based blends. Binary blends of PET with both functionalized (SEBS‐g‐GMA, SEP‐g‐GMA, SEPSEP‐g‐GMA) and neat (SEBS, SEP, SEPSEP) copolymers (75 : 25 w/w) and ternary blends of PET and PP (75 : 25 w/w) with various amounts (2.5–10 phr) of both modified and unmodified copolymers were prepared in an internal mixer, and their properties were evaluated by SEM, DSC, melt viscosimetry, and tensile and impact tests. The roles of the chemical structure, grafting degree, and concentration of the various copolymers on blend compatibilization was investigated. The blends with the grafted copolymers showed a neat improvement of phase dispersion and interfacial adhesion compared to the blends with nonfunctionalized copolymers. The addition of grafted copolymers resulted in a marked increase in melt viscosity, which was accounted for by the occurrence of chemical reactions between the epoxide groups of GMA and the carboxyl/hydroxyl end groups of PET during melt mixing. Blends with SEPSEP‐g‐GMA and SEBS‐g‐GMA, at concentrations of 5–10 phr, showed a higher compatibilizing effect with enhanced elongation at break and impact resistance. The effectiveness of GMA‐functionalized SEBS was then compared to that of maleic anhydride–grafted SEBS. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 2201–2211, 2005     

Mechanical properties and morphology of PP/ABS blends compatibilized with PP‐g‐2‐HEMA

Polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene blends of different composition were prepared using a single‐screw extruder. The binary blend of PP/ABS was observed to be incompatible and shows poor mechanical properties. PP‐g‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2‐HEMA) was used as a compatibilizer for the PP/ABS blends. The ternary compatibilized blends of PP/ABS/PP‐g‐2‐HEMA showed improvement in the mechanical properties. Electron micrographs of these blends showed a homogeneous and finer distribution of the dispersed phase. The mechanical performance increased particularly in the PP‐rich blend. The 2.5‐phr (part per hundred of resin) compatibilizer was observed to bring improvement to the properties. The suitability of various existing theoretical models for the predication of the tensile moduli of these blends was examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 72–78, 2003     

Phase behavior of binary blends of PP/PP‐g‐AA: limitations of the conventional characterization techniques

In this study, miscibility/immiscibility issues of a binary blend consisting of polypropylene (PP) and acrylic acid grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐AA) were investigated using rheometry, DSC, dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis (DMTA), AFM and time‐of‐flight secondary‐ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS). Phase separation analysis of such blend systems is a challenge and complex due to chemically similar components as well as the low value of acrylic acid groups in the graft copolymer. Thus, it is crucial to determine if the present blend shows some degree of miscibility or develops co‐continuous morphology between the components. The analysis of rheometrical, DSC and DMTA results indicated no sensitivity of these classical techniques for detecting the miscibility or immiscibility of such a system. However, AFM data effectively detected dispersed‐phase domains corresponding to the PP‐g‐AA rich phase. The results, for the first time, indicated that the start of phase separation occurs at a critical copolymer concentration between 2 and 5 wt%. Furthermore it was observed that, as the PP‐g‐AA content increases, the size and continuity of the dispersed phase increase and reach a highly continuous morphology. Additionally, ToF‐SIMS chemical imaging was carried out to aid in the interpretation of the AFM data. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Dynamically cured polypropylene/Novolac blends compatibilized with maleic anhydride‐g‐polypropylene

In this article, the dynamic vulcanization process was applied to polypropylene (PP)/Novolac blends compatibilized with maleic anhydride‐grafted PP (MAH‐g‐PP). The influences of dynamic cure, content of MAH‐g‐PP, Novolac, and curing agent on mechanical properties of the PP/Novolac blends were investigated. The results showed that the dynamically cured PP/MAH‐g‐PP/Novolac blend had the best mechanical properties among all PP/Novolac blends. The dynamic cure of Novolac improved the modulus and stiffness of the PP/Novolac blends. The addition of MAH‐g‐PP into dynamically cured PP/Novolac blend further enhanced the mechanical properties. With increasing Novolac content, tensile strength, flexural modulus, and flexural strength increased significantly, while the elongation at break dramatically deceased. Those blends with hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as a curing agent had good mechanical properties at HMTA content of 10 wt %. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that dynamically cured PP/MAH‐g‐PP/Novolac blends had finer domains than the PP/MAH‐g‐PP/Novolac blends. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results indicated that the incorporation of Novolac into PP could improve the thermal stability of PP. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Attaining optimal dyeability and tensile properties of polypropylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends with a special cubic mixture experimental design

In this investigation, we attempted to enhance the dyeability of polypropylene (PP) with disperse dyestuffs without adversely affecting its tensile properties. To this end, a special cubic experimental design was used to predict the effect of variations in the properties of a tricomponent mixture composed of PP, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MA) on the dyeability and tensile properties of the resultant polymer blend. The results illustrate that there seemed to be critical PET content, above which the blend's dye uptake tended to remain constant, but the tensile properties were adversely affected. Further analysis of the results indicated that the PP/PET/PP‐g‐MA blends in which the PET and PP‐g‐MA contents were in the range 10–15 and 4–5 wt %, respectively, gave maximal dye uptake and desirable tensile properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Effects of different compatibilizers on the rheological,thermomechanical, and morphological properties of HDPE/LLDPE blend‐based nanocomposites

The influence of two different compatibilizers and their combination (maleic anhydride grafted high density polyethylene, HDPE‐g‐MA; maleic anhydride grafted linear low density polyethylene, LLDPE‐g‐MA; and 50/50 wt % mixture of these compatibilizers) on the rheological, thermomechanical, and morphological properties of HDPE/LLDPE/organoclay blend‐based nanocomposites was evaluated. Nanocomposites were obtained by melt‐intercalation in a torque rheometer in two steps. Masterbatches (compatibilizer/nanoclay 2:1) were obtained and subsequently diluted in the HDPE/LLDPE matrix producing nanocomposites with 2.5 wt % of nanoclay. Wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), steady‐state rheological properties, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to determine the influence of different compatibilizer systems on intercalation and/or exfoliation process which occurs preferentially in the amorphous phase, and thermomechanical properties. The LLDPE‐g‐MA with a high melt index (and consequently low viscosity and crystallinity) was an effective compatibilizer for this system. Furthermore, the compatibilized nanocomposites with LLDPE‐g‐MA or mixture of HDPE‐g‐MA and LLDPE‐g‐MA exhibited better nanoclay's dispersion and distribution with stronger interactions between the matrix and the nanoclay. These results indicated that the addition of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene facilitates both, the exfoliation and/or intercalation of the clays and its adhesion to HDPE/LLDPE blend. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1726–1735, 2013     

An investigation on recycled PET/PP and recycled PET/PP‐EP compatibilized blends: Rheological,morphological, and mechanical properties

The effectiveness of P(E‐co‐MA‐co‐GMA) as a compatibilizer for recycled PET/PP and recycled PET/PP‐EP (polypropylene (ethylene‐propylene) heterophase copolymer) blends was investigated by means of morphological (scanning electron microscopy), rheological (small amplitude oscillatory shear), mechanical (tensile, flexural and impact tests), and thermal (differential scanning calorimetry) properties. Compatibilizer concentration ranged from 1 to 5 wt % with respect to the whole blend. All blends were obtained in a 90/10 composition using a twin screw extruder. Compatibilization effects for PETr/PP‐EP were more pronounced due to ethylene segments present in both PP‐EP and P(E‐co‐EA‐co‐GMA). PETr/PP‐EP has shown greater dispersed phase size reduction, a more solid‐like complex viscosity behavior and larger storage modulus at low frequencies in relation to PETr/PP blend. For both investigated blends, mechanical properties indicated an improvement in both elongation at break and impact strength with increasing compatibilizer content. PETr/PP‐EP blends showed improved performance for the same level of compatibilizer content. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41892.     

Improved compatibility of high‐density polyethylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) blend by the use of blocked isocyanate group

The blocked isocyanate group (BHI) was synthesized to improve the storage stability of HI (2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate combined with isophorone diisocyanate) and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). High‐density polyethylene grafted with the blocked isocyanate group (HDPE‐g‐BHI) was used as a reactive compatibilizer for an immiscible high‐density polyethylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (HDPE/PET) blend. A possible reactive compatibilization mechanism is that regenerated isocyanate groups of HDPE functionalized by BHI react with the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of PET during melt blending. The HDPE‐g‐BHI/PET blend showed the smaller size of a dispersed phase compared to the HDPE/PET blend, indicating improved compatibility between HDPE and PET. This increased compatibility was due to the formation of an in situ graft copolymer, which was confirmed by dynamic mechanical analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis represented that there were few changes in the crystallinity for the continuous PET phase of the HDPE‐g‐BHI/PET blends, compared with those of the HDPE/PET blends at the same composition. Tensile strengths and elongations at the break of the HDPE‐g‐BHI/PET blends were greater than those of the HDPE/PET blends. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1017–1024, 2000     

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polypropylene reactive blends through isocyanate functional group

To evaluate the compatibilization effects of an isocyanate group on poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polypropylene (PET/PP) blends through a reactive blend, PP grafted with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐isophorone diisocyanate (PP‐g‐HI) was prepared and blended with PET. In view of the blend morphology, the presence of PP‐g‐HI reduced the particle size of the dispersed phase by the reduced interfacial tension between the PP and PET phases, indicating the in situ copolymer (PP‐g‐PET) generated during the melt blending. The DSC thermograms for the cooling run indicated that the PET crystallization in the PP‐g‐HI rich phase was affected by the chemical reactions of PET and PP‐g‐HI. The improved mechanical properties for the PET/PP‐g‐HI blends were shown in the measurement of the tensile and flexural properties. In addition, the water absorption test indicated that the PET/PP‐g‐HI blend was more effective than the PET/PP blend in improving the water resistance of PET. The positive properties of PET/PP‐g‐HI blends stemmed from the improved compatibilization of the PET/PP blend. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1056–1062, 2001     

Effect of the compatibilizer on the morphology and properties of dynamically cured PP/POE/epoxy blends

Dynamic vulcanization was successfully applied to epoxy resin reinforced polypropylene (PP)/ethylene‐octene copolymer (POE) blends, and the effects of different compatibilizers on the morphology and properties of dynamically cured PP/POE/epoxy blends were studied. The results show that dynamically cured PP/POE/epoxy blends compatibilized with maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (MAH‐g‐PP) have a three‐phase structure consisting of POE and epoxy particles dispersed in the PP continuous phase, and these blends had improved tensile strength and flexural modulus. While using maleic anhydride‐grafted POE (MAH‐g‐POE) as a compatibilizer, the structure of the core‐shell complex phase and the PP continuous phase showed that epoxy particles could be embedded in MAH‐g‐POE in the blends, and gave rise to an increase in impact strength, while retaining a certain strength and modulus. DSC analysis showed that the epoxy particles in the blends compatibilized with MAH‐g‐PP were more efficient nucleating agents for PP than they were in the blends compatibilized with MAH‐g‐POE. WAXD analysis shows that compatibilization do not disturb the crystalline structure of PP in the blends. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Effect of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene on the mechanical and morphological properties of chemically modified short‐pineapple‐leaf‐fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites

With the rising cost of petroleum‐based fibers, the utilization of plant fibers in the manufacture of polymer–matrix composites is gaining importance worldwide. The scope of this study was to examine the perspective of the use of pineapple leaf fibers (PALFs) as reinforcements for polypropylene (PP). These fibers are environmentally friendly, low‐cost byproducts of pineapple cultivation and are readily available in the northeastern region of India. Here, both untreated and treated pineapple fibers were used. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA‐g‐PP) was used as a compatibilizing agent. The polymer matrix of PP was used to prepare composite specimens with different volume fractions (5–20%) of fibers by the addition of 5% of MA‐g‐PP. These specimens were tested for their mechanical properties, and additional assessments were made via observations by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Increase in the impact behavior, flexural properties, and tensile moduli of the composites were noticed, and these were more appreciable in the treated fibers mixed with MA‐g‐PP. PALF in 10 vol % in PP mixed with MA‐g‐PP was the optimum and recommended composition, where the flexural properties were the maximum. The impact strength and the tensile modulus were also considerably high. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Effect of compatibilizer on micromehanical deformations and morphology of dispersion in PP/PDMS blend

Role of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MAH) in interface modification in polypropylene (PP)/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) elastomer blend has been investigated in this article through its effects on morphology of dispersion, micromechanical deformations such as voiding, crazing, shear yielding, fibrillation, and tensile behavior. During tensile deformation, PP/PDMS blend without the compatibilizer showed debonding at the elastomer‐matrix interface and it induced shear yielding and subsequently fibrillation in the matrix. The compatibilizer improved the interfacial adhesion between the PDMS domains and PP matrix, which prevented the debonding at elastomer‐matrix interface and the resulting shear yielding, and fibrillation was absent and rather caused extensive crazing in the matrix. Addition of PP‐g‐MAH reduced the size of dispersed PDMS domains, and narrowed the domain size distribution, which is attributed as an effect of interfacial adhesion produced by PP‐g‐MAH. Stress–strain curve and fibrillation also show similar effect of the interfacial adhesion caused by the compatibilizer. All these observations consistently lead to conclude that PP‐g‐MAH acts as a good compatibilizer for PP/PDMS blend. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Poly(L‐lactide)/polypropylene blends: Evaluation of mechanical,thermal, and morphological characteristics

Poly(L lactide) (PLA) was blended with polypropylene (PP) at various ratios (PLA:PP = 90 : 10, 80 : 20, 70 : 30, and 50 : 50) with a melt‐blending technique in an attempt to improve the melt processability of PLA. Maleic anhydride (MAH)‐grafted PP and glycidyl methacrylate were used as the reactive compatibilizers to induce miscibility in the blend. The PLA/PP blend at a blend ratio of 90 : 10, exhibited optimum mechanical performance. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis studies showed that the PLA/PP/MAH‐g‐PP blend had the maximum thermal stability with the support of the heat deflection temperature values. Furthermore, dynamic mechanical analysis findings revealed an increase in the glass‐transition temperature and storage modulus with the addition of MAH‐g‐PP compatibilizer. The interaction between the compatibilizers and constituent polymers was confirmed from Fourier transform infrared spectra, and scanning electron microscopy of impact‐fractured samples showed that the soft PP phase was dispersed within the PLA matrix, and a decrease in the domain size of the dispersed phase was observed with the incorporation of MAH‐g‐PP, which acted as a compatibilizer to improve the compatibility between PLA and PP. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Morphology and properties of nylon 6 and high density polyethylene blends in presence of nanoclay and PE‐g‐MA

In this study, we report the synergistic effect of nanoclay and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE‐g‐MA) on the morphology and properties of (80/20 w/w) nylon 6/high density polyethylene (HDPE) blend. Polymer blend nanocomposites containing nanoclay with and without compatibilizer (PE‐g‐MA) were prepared by melt mixing, and their morphologies and structures were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and wide angle X‐ray diffractometer (WAXD) study. The size of phase‐separated domains decreased considerably with increasing content of nanoclay and PE‐g‐MA. WAXD study and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the presence of exfoliated clay platelets in nylon 6 matrix, as well as, at the interface of the (80/20 w/w) nylon 6/HDPE blend–clay nanocomposites. Addition of PE‐g‐MA in the blend–clay nanocomposites enhanced the exfoliation of clays in nylon 6 matrix and especially at the interface. Thus, exfoliated clay platelets in nylon 6 matrix effectively restricted the coalescence of dispersed HDPE domains while PE‐g‐MA improved the adhesion between the phases at the interface. The use of compatibilizer and nanoclay in polymer blends may lead to a high performance material which combines the advantages of compatibilized polymer blends and the merits of polymer nanocomposites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012