Dynamic mechanical, thermal, physico-mechanical and morphological properties of LLDPE/EMA blends

The effect of blend composition on the morphology, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal and physico-mechanical properties of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ ethylene-co-methyl acrylate (EMA) blends were studied. The blend showed both dispersed and continuous phase morphology that depends on the blend composition. A co-continuous structure is formed for blends containing 50 wt% of EMA. Dynamic mechanical studies showed that flexibility of the blend enhanced with the expansion of the amorphous region as EMA content increased. However, two separate melting temperature peak observed in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicate that the blends are immiscible in crystalline region of the two polymers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies showed that crystallinity of blends decreases with increase in EMA content and negative deviation of tensile strength from the mixing rule indicates the poor interfacial adhesion between the two components. FTIR spectroscopy established the lack of chemical interaction between LLDPE and EMA, which support the SEM, DSC, DMA and XRD observations. Parallel-Voids model has been applied to characterize phase morphology of these blends.     

Study of morphology influence on rheological properties of compatibilized TPU/SAN blends

The compatibilizing efficiency of three different compatibilizers on the thermoplastic polyurethane/styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile (TPU/SAN) blends properties was investigated after compatibilizer's incorporation via melt‐mixing. The compatibilizers studied were as follows: poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PCL) of different molecular weight (M_w), a mixture of polystyrene‐block‐polycaprolactone (PS‐b‐PCL) and polystyrene‐block‐poly (methyl methacrylate) (PS‐b‐PMMA), and a mixture of polyisoprene‐block‐polycaprolactone (PI‐b‐PCL) and polybutadiene‐block‐poly (methyl methacrylate) (PB‐b‐PMMA). In our study, the effect of 5 wt % added compatibilizers on TPU/SAN blends morphology was examined. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the morphology at different length scales and to determine the compatibilizer's location. Investigations showed the different improvement of properties, because of the different incorporation of compatibilizers in the polymer blend. The morphology influence on the rheological behavior of compatibilized blends was investigated with a stress‐controlled rheometer (Rheometric Dynamic Stress Rheometer, SR‐500). Different compatibilization activity was found for different system. It was also found that compatibilization activity of added compatibilizer strongly depends on the comaptibilizer's M_w. Blends compatibilized with PCL showed superior properties as compared with the other examined blends. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 2303–2316, 2006     

Dynamic rheological behavior and mechanical properties of PVC/ACS blends

In order to increase the processability and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), the terpolymer of acrylonitrile-chlorinated polyethylene-styrene (ACS) is used to modify the PVC. The plasticizing, rheological, and dynamic mechanical properties of PVC/ACS blends are investigated by means of torque rheometer, oscillation rheometer, and dynamic mechanical analyzer. The measurements of torque rheometer showed that both plasticizing time and stabilization torque are decreased with increasing ACS content. The PVC/ACS melts displayed larger dynamic storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G′′), and complex viscosity (η*) than that of pure PVC, and these values reached maximum for the blend with 10 wt% ACS. When ACS content was below 10 wt%, PVC and ACS showed good compatibility in the blends by displaying a single T _g; however, when ACS content was more than 15 wt%, the phase separation phenomena occurred in the blends. PVC/ACS blends showed larger storage modulus (E′) and loss modulus (E′′) than that of pure PVC, but these values decreased with increasing ACS content. ACS can enhance both tensile and impact strength of PVC, and the impact strength reached maximum with 15 wt% ACS content which is higher 2.5 kJ/m² than the pure PVC. These results suggested that ACS is an efficient processing aid and toughening modifier for PVC at appropriate content.     

Melt rheological properties of reactive compatibilized HDPE/PET blends

Melt rheological properties of high density polyethylene and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (HDPE/PET) blends compatibilized by an ethylene–butyl acrylate–glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer (EBAGMA) were studied by means of a HAAKE torque rheometer and a capillary rheometer. The phase morphology of the blends was evaluated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the melts of blends behave pseudoplasticity. The addition of EBAGMA strengthens the interfacial adhesion between HDPE and PET and improves the phase dispersion due to reactive compatibilization. It was observed that the balance torque, melt viscosity, and sensitivity of melt viscosity to shear rate of the melts increase with increasing content of EBAGMA, but the melt flow index and activation energy decrease. At the same time, the plasticizing time is shortened indicating that the processability of the compatibilized blends has been improved. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Rotational molding of compatibilized PA6/LLDPE blends

In this work, rotational molding was used to produce parts based on a blend of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and polyamide 6 (PA6). In particular, the concentration of PA6 (0, 10, 20, and 30% vol) with and without a compatibilizer (Surlyn 9020) was investigated via two methods: dry blending in a high-shear mixer and melt compounding in a twin-screw extruder followed by pulverization. To determine the efficiency of the rotomolding process, similar parts were produced via compression molding. For rotational molding, dry ice (solid CO₂) was used to create an inert atmosphere in the mold and the processing conditions were followed by the mold internal air temperature traces. From the samples produced, thermal, morphological, and mechanical properties were measured. The results showed that the rotomolded parts of the melt blended compounds generated smaller and better dispersed PA6 particles in the LLDPE matrix. This finer morphology led to improved mechanical properties, especially when the compatibilizer was present. But the latter was found to be more effective on the compression-molded samples.     

Characterization of PET/LLDPE blends compatibilized with DEM-grafted-polyethylene

Summary Polyethylene terephtalate (PET)/linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) blend compatibilized with diethylmaleate grafted polyethylene (DEM-g-LLDPE) were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR and TGA results indicate that there are interactions between the components of the blends, which produced variations in the infrared bands associated with the conformational changes (from gauche to trans) within the glycolic sequences of the polyester and a sinergistic effect on the thermal-oxidative stability of the compatibilized blends. Morphological analysis showed a dispersed particle size reduction and a better adhesion between the matrix and the disperse phase. Received: 3 March 1998/Revised version: 28 May 1998/Accepted: 10 June 1998     

Covulcanization of LLDPE/EMA blends using dicumyl peroxide

The effect of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) content on the gel fraction, mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermal properties of linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ethylene‐co‐methyl acrylate (EMA) blends were studied. Gel content of the blends increases with increasing DCP content, and EMA is more prone to crosslinking than LLDPE. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to study the effect of DCP crosslinking on percent crystallinity and crystalline structure of the blends and individual components. At lower level of DCP loading, crosslinking process does not have significant effect on the crystalline structure of the LLDPE, which was confirmed from the percent crystallinity and lattice distance value. However, at higher DCP content, percent crystallinity decreases significantly. At lower EMA concentration (<50%), percent crystallinity and lattice distance remain unchanged up to 2 wt % of DCP. For EMA contents of more than 50 wt %, increasing DCP content reduces the crystallinity of the blends and increases the lattice distance. The highest level of mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties was observed for 60/40 LLDPE/EMA blends at 2 wt % DCP. Addition of LLDPE‐g‐MA (3 wt %) as a compatibilizer enhances the properties of the vulcanizates. Blends crosslinked with DCP up to 0.3 wt % can easily be reprocessed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of polypropylene/maleated polypropylene blends

The dynamic mechanical properties of both homopolypropylene (PPVC)/Maleated Poly-propylene (PP-g-MA) and ethylene-propylene block copolymer (PPSC)/Maleated Poly-propylene (PP-g-MA) blends have been studied by using a dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (PL-DMTA MKII) over a wide temperature range, covering a frequency zone from 0.3 to 30 Hz. With increasing content of PP-g-MA, α relaxation of both blends gradually shift to a lower temperature and the apparent activation energy ΔE_α increases. In PPVC/PP-g-MA blends, β relaxation shifts to a higher temperature as the content of PP-g-MA increases from 0 to 20 wt % and then change unobviously for further varying content of PP-g-MA from 20 to 35 wt %. On the contrary, in the PPSC/PP-g-MA blends β₁ relaxation, the apparent activation energy ΔE_β1 and β₂ relaxation are almost unchanged with blend composition, while ΔE_β2 increases with an increase of PP-g-MA content. In the composition range studied, storage modulus É value for PPSC/PP-g-MA blends decreases progressively between β₂ and α relaxation with increasing temperature, but in the region the increment for PPVC/PP-g-MA blends is independent of temperature. The flexural properties of PPVC/PP-g-MA blend show more obvious improvement on PP than one of PPSC/PP-g-MA blends. Scanning electron micrographs of fracture surfaces of the blends clearly demonstrate two-phase morphology, viz. the discrete particles homogeneously disperse in the continous phase, the main difference in the morphology between both blends is that the interaction between the particles and the continuous phase is stronger for for PPVC/PP-g-MA than for PPSC/PP-g-MA blend. By the correlation of the morphology with dynamic and mechanical properties of the blends, the variation of the relaxation behavior and mechanical properties with the componenet structure, blend composition, vibration frequency, and as well as the features observed in these variation are reasonably interpreted. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The study of morphology,thermal and thermo‐mechanical properties of compatibilized TPU/SAN blends

The compatibilizing efficiency of three different compatibilizers in thermoplastic polyurethane/styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile (TPU/SAN) blends was investigated after their incorporation via melt‐mixing. The compatibilizers studied were poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PCL), a mixture of polystyrene‐block‐polycaprolactone (PS‐b‐PCL) and polystyrene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS‐b‐PMMA), and a mixture of polyisoprene‐block‐polycaprolactone (PI‐b‐PCL) and polybutadiene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PB‐b‐PMMA). All compatibilizers were synthesized by living anionic polymerization. Investigations of thermal and thermo‐mechanical properties performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DTMA), respectively, were systematically classified into two groups, i.e. blends of TPU or SAN with 20 wt% of different compatibilizers (so‐called limit conditions) and TPU/SAN 25/75 blends with 5 wt% of different compatibilizers. In order to determine the compatibilizer's location, morphology of TPU/SAN 25/75 blends was studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Different compatibilization activity was found for different systems. Blends compatibilized with PCL showed superior properties over the other blends. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:838–852, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Interfacially compatibilized LDPE/POE blends reinforced with nanoclay: investigation of morphology,rheology and dynamic mechanical properties

Morphological, melt rheological and dynamic mechanical properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/ethylene–octene copolymer (POE)/organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites, prepared via melt compounding were studied. The XRD traces indicated different levels of intercalated structures for the nanocomposites. Addition of a compatibilizer (PE-g-MA) improved the intercalation process. TEM results revealed existence of clay layers in both phases but they were mainly localized in the elastomeric POE phase. Addition of 5 wt% OMMT to the LDPE/POE blend led to reduction in the size of the elastomer particles confirmed by AFM. The complex viscosity and storage modulus showed little effect of the presence of the clay when no compatibilizer was added. As the extent of exfoliation increased with addition of compatibilizer, the linear viscoelastic behavior of the composites gradually changed specially at low-frequency regions. The interfacially compatibilized nanocomposites with 5 wt% OMMT had the highest melt viscosity and modulus among all the studied nanocomposites and blends. Also, this particular composition showed the best improvement in dynamic storage modulus. The results indicated that clay dispersion and interfacial adhesion, and consequently different properties of LDPE/POE/clay nanocomposites, are greatly affected by addition of compatibilizer.     

Microscopic morphology,rheological behavior,and mechanical properties of polymers: Recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/polybutylene terephthalate blends

In this study, styrene-acrylonitrile-glycidyl methacrylate (SAG) series copolymers were specially designed for producing the recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (rABS)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/SAG blends, which were prepared through the process of continuous melt blending and batch feeding. The effects of viscosity composition, SAG chemical composition, and SAG content on the morphology, and rheological and mechanical properties of the blends have been investigated. As demonstrated by morphological observation, the variety of viscosity composition of the blends affects the size of dispersed PBT droplets. Moreover, high viscosity of rABS matrix seems to facilitate the formation of smaller dispersed phase size of blends. Various SAG chemical compositions have different stabilities on the morphology of the blends, which affects the deformation, fragmentation, and coalescence of dispersed phase droplets. In addition, a finer phase morphology can be achieved when the density distribution of epoxy group is optimal in SAG copolymer. Rheological characterization manifested that the rheological properties of the blends depends strongly on its composition and structure, while the crosslinking degree is associated with the concentration of reactive groups and extent of reaction. Thereby, the rheological behavior of the blends during processing can be controlled by changing the reactive sequence and adding the quantity of epoxy group. The test on mechanical properties verified that a recycled product with excellent performance can be obtained by altering processing methods and the blends formula, which may be further applied to the 3D printing materials required by fused deposition modeling technology. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48310.     

HDPE/ROSIN blends: I-Morphology, mechanical and rheological properties

SUMMARY Melting mixtures of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and glycerol ester of hydrogenated rosin (ester gum) were prepared under select conditions using up to 50% of rosin. All blends showed phase separation. The size of rosin domains varied with the content of low molecular weight constituent. The 50/50 blend showed the highest dispersion and the presence of micro and macro rosin domains. Up to 20% rosin a slight decrease of Young's modulus was noticed while above this rosin content a slight increase occurred. The stress and elongation dropped markedly above 10% of rosin. The hardness of blends showed the same behavior as the elastic modulus. The melt flow index increased exponentially with the rosin content while processability has improved. Received: 7 May 1997/Revised version: 20 March 1998/Accepted: 14 April 1998     

Morphological,thermal, rheological,and mechanical properties of PP/EVOH blends compatibilized with PP‐g‐IA

We prepared some blends of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) with and without a compatibilizer. As a new compatibilizer, we synthesized polypropylene grafted with itaconic acid (PP‐g‐IA) using Brabender mixing system. We investigated the morphological, thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties of a compatibilized blends (PP/EVOH/PP‐g‐IA) and not compatibilized blends (PP/EVOH). Our experiments showed that carboxylic acid groups in PP‐g‐IA and hydroxyl group in EVOH formed strong in situ hydrogen bond in the compatibilized blends, resulting in better morphological and mechanical properties of the compatibilized blends than those of not compatibilized blends. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:1240–1247, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Rheological and mechanical properties of compatibilized polystyrene/ethylene vinyl acetate blends

In this study, a blend of polystyrene (PS)/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) (PS/EVA, 90 : 10 wt %) was compatibilized with three different block copolymers, in which their end blocks were compatible with either styrene or EVA. The compatibilized blends with different compositions were prepared using a twin‐screw extruder and injection molded into the required test specimens. Mechanical properties of the blends, such as tensile properties and Charpy impact strength, morphology of tensile fractured surfaces, rheological properties, and thermal properties, were investigated. The results show that the interaction between the dispersed and continuous phase can be improved by the addition of a compatibilizer. Appreciable improvement in the impact strength of the blend with 15 wt % of compatibilizer C (polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene) was observed. Its mechanical properties are comparable to those of the commercial high‐impact polystyrene, STYRON 470. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 2071–2082, 2004     

LLDPE/LDPE blends. I. Rheological,thermal, and mechanical properties

Structure and mechanical properties were studied for the binary blends of a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) (ethylene‐1‐hexene copolymer; density = 900 kg m⁻³) with narrow short chain branching distribution and a low density polyethylene (LDPE) which is characterized by the long chain branches. It was found by the rheological measurements that the LLDPE and the LDPE are miscible in the molten state. The steady‐state rheological properties of the blends can be predicted using oscillatory shear moduli. Furthermore, the crystallization temperature of LDPE is higher than that of the LLDPE and is found to act as a nucleating agent for the crystallization of the LLDPE. Consequently, the melting temperature, degree of crystallinity, and hardness of the blend increase rapidly with increases in the LDPE content in the blend, even though the amount of the LDPE in the blend is small. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 3153–3159, 1999     

乙烯-丙烯酸共聚物增容导电苯胺共聚物/聚乙烯共混物的形态与性能

以乙烯-丙烯酸共聚物(EAA)为增容剂,将十二烷基苯磺酸热掺杂的苯胺/邻甲氧基苯胺共聚物〔P(An-co-oAs)-DBSA〕与线性低密度聚乙烯(LLDPE)进行熔融共混制得P(An-co-oAs)-DBSA/LLDPE/EAA导电共混物,研究了EAA用量对共混物的导电性能和力学性能的影响。结果表明,当EAA与LLDPE的质量比为30/70时,共混物的电导率最佳,随着EAA含量的增加,共混物的拉伸强度增加,扯断伸长率降低;紫外-可见光谱分析表明,EAA在共混过程中对P(An-co-oAs)有一定的二次掺杂作用;扫描电子显微镜照片显示,EAA对共混体系有良好增容作用,同时发现EAA用量过多时会对P(An-co-oAs)-DBSA产生包覆作用,这对共混物的导电性是不利的。     

The morphology,rheological, and mechanical properties of wood flour/starch/poly(lactic acid) blends

An entirely biosourced blend composed of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), starch, and wood flour (WF) was prepared by a co‐extruder with glycerol as a plasticizer. The morphology, rheological properties, and mechanical properties of the WF/starch/PLA blends were comprehensively analyzed. The results showed that with the decrease of the starch/WF ratio, the morphology experienced a large transformation, and the compatibility of the blends was found to be superior to other blends, with a starch/wood flour ratio of 7/3. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA) results demonstrated the incompatibility of the components in WF/starch/PLA blends. Following the decrease of the starch/WF ratio, the storage modulus (G″) and the complex viscosity (η*) of the blends increased. The mechanical strength first increased, and then decreased with the increase of the WF concentration. The water absorption results showed that the water resistance of the blends was reduced with the lower starch/WF ratio. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44743.     

Effect of EPDM on LDPE/LLDPE blends: mechanical properties

Blends of two polyethylenes and an elastomer were prepared to investigate the effect of the latter polymer. The blends contain equal parts of low density (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and ethylene–propylene–diene rubber (EPDM) with variable content ranging from 0 to 17.5%. Melt-mixed blends were prepared using a single-screw extruder. The influence on the mechanical properties of the following factors were analyzed: EPDM content, stretching rate in the range from 10 to 750 mm/min, and two cooling conditions. From the equilibrium torque the miscibility was analyzed. The structure exhibited by the stress–strain (–) curve of the polyethylenes blend is reduced with the addition of the elastomeric phase, and the ultimate properties increase because the amorphous phase becomes softer and reduces its capability to transmit the applied stress to the crystalline particles. The slope of the – curve in the strain hardening region shows a maximum value at the stretching rate ∼ 50–80 mm/min, which is explained partially in terms of the strain-induced crystallization of the polyethylene components. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65: 677-683, 1997     

Dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of polypropylene block copolymers and polypropylene/elastomer blends

The relation between the dynamic mechanical properties and the morphology of polypropylene (PP) block copolymers and polypropylene/elastomer blends was studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), light- and electron microscopy. The latter techniques contributed to an improvement in assignments of relaxation transitions in the DMA spectra. It was established that PP block copolymers had multiphase structure since the ethylene/propylene rubber phase (EPR) formed in the copolymerization contained polyethylene (PE) domains. An identical morphology was found in the case of PP/polyolefin thermoplastic rubber (TPO) blends. Impact modification of PP by styrene/butadiene block copolymers led to a multiphase structure, too, due to the polystyrene (PS) domains aggregated in the soft rubbery polybutadiene phase. In the semicrystalline polyolefinic and in the amorphous styrene/butadienebased thermoplastic rubbers, PE crystallites and PS do mains acted as nodes of the physical network structure, respectively. PP/EPDM/TPO ternary blends developed for replacing high-density PE showed very high dispersion of the modifiers as compared to that of PP block copolymers. This fine dispersion of the impact modifier is a basic regulating factor of impact energy dissipation in the form of shear yielding and crazing.     

From microstructure to mechanical properties of compatibilized polylactide/thermoplastic starch blends

Bio‐degradable polymer blends of polylactic acid/thermoplastic starch (PLA/TPS) were prepared via direct melt blending varying order of mixing of ingredients fed into the extruder. The effect of interface interactions between PLA and TPS in the presence of maleic anhydride (MA) compatibilizer on the microstructure and mechanical properties was then investigated. The prepared PLA/TPS blends were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile, and rheological measurements. Morphology of PLA/TPS shows that the introduction of MA into the polymer matrix increases the presence of TPS at the interface region. DSC results revealed the reduction of glass transition temperature of PLA with contributions from both TPS and MA. The crystallization temperature was decreased by the addition of MA leading to reduction of overall crystallization of PLA/TPS blend. The mechanical measurements show that increasing MA content up to 2 wt % enhances the modulus of PLA/TPS more than 45% compared to the corresponding blends free of MA compatibilizer. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44734.