Studies on binary and ternary blends of polypropylene with SEBS,PS, and HDPE. I. Melt rheological behavior

Studies are reported on melt rheological behavior of some binary and ternary blends of polypropylene (PP) with one or two of the following polymers: styrene–b-ethylene butylene–b-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS), polystyrene (PS), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Blend composition of the binary blends PP/X or ternary blends PP/X/Y were so chosen that the former represent addition of 10 wt % X to PP while the latter represent 10 wt % addition of X or Y to the PP/Y or PP/X blend of constant composition 90:10 by weight, X/Y being SEBS, PS, or HDPE. Measurements were made on a capillary rheometer using both temperature elevation and constant temperature methods to study the behaviors prior to flow and in the flow region. Flow behavior, measured at a constant temperature (200°C) and varying shear stress (from 1.0 to 5.0 × 10⁶ dyn/cm²) to evaluate melt viscosity and melt elasticity parameters, is discussed for its dependence on the nature of the blend. Extrudate distortion, studied as a function of shear stress to evaluate the critical shear stress for the onset of extrudate distortion, showed differences in the tendency for extrudate distortion or melt fracture of these different blends. Also discussed is the effect of melt viscosity and melt elasticity on extrudate distortion behavior at the critical condition, which showed a unique critical value of the ratio (melt elasticity parameter)^1/2 (melt viscosity) for all these blends. Blend morphologies before and after the flow through the capillary are investigated through scanning electron microscopy, and their correlations with rheological parameters of the melt are discussed.     

Studies on binary and ternary blends of polypropylene with ABS and LDPE. I. Melt rheological behavior

Studies are presented on melt rheological properties of binary blend of polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene terpolymer (ABS), and ternary blend of PP, ABS, and low-den-sity polyethylene (LDPE). Data obtained in capillary rheometer are presented to describe the effect of blending ratio, shear stress, and shear rate on flow properties, melt viscosity, and melt elasticity. At a blend composition corresponding to 10 wt % ABS content, both binary and ternary blends show maximum in melt viscosity accompanied by minimum in melt elasticity. Pseudoplasticity of the melt decreases with increasing ABS content. In ternary blends, LDPE facilitates the flow at low LDPE contents and obstructs the flow at high LDPE contents. Scanning electron microscopic studies are also presented to illustrate the state of dispersion and its variation with blend composition.     

Melt rheological properties of polypropylene/SEBS (styrene–ethylene butylene–styrene block copolymer) blends

Study of melt rheological properties of the blends of polypropylene (PP) with styrene–ethylene butylene–styrene block copolymer (SEBS), at blending ratios 5–20% SEBS, is reported. Results illustrate the effects of (i) blend composition and (ii) shear rate or shear stress on melt viscosity and melt elasticity and the extrudate distortion. In general, blending of PP with SEBS results in a decrease of its melt viscosity, processing temperatures, and the tendency of extrudate distortion. However, the properties depend on blending ratio. A blending ratio around 5–10% SEBS seems optimum from the point of view of desirable improvement in processability behavior.     

Structure–property relationships in ternary polymer blends with core–shell inclusions: revisiting the critical role of the viscosity ratio

Structure–property relationship in typical polypropylene/polycarbonate/poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene] (PP/PC/SEBS) ternary blends containing maleated SEBS (SEBS-g-MAH) was investigated. Three grades of PC with different melt viscosities were used, and changes in blend morphology from PC/SEBS core–shell particles partially surrounded by SEBS-g-MAH to inverse SEBS/PC core–shell particles in PP matrix were observed upon varying the viscosity ratio of PC to SEBS. It was found that the viscosity ratio completely controls the size of the core–shell droplets and governs the type, population, and shape of the dispersed domains, as evidenced by rheological, mechanical, and thermomechanical behavioral assessments. Dynamic mechanical analysis of samples with common (PC–SEBS) and inverse (SEBS–PC) core–shell particles revealed that they show completely different behaviors: blends containing PC–SEBS presented a higher storage and loss modulus, while blends containing SEBS–PC exhibited a lower β-transition temperature. Moreover, ternary blends with PC cores showed the highest Young’s modulus values and the lowest impact strength, due to the different fracture modes of the blends containing PC–SEBS and SEPS–PC core–shell droplets, which present debonding and shell-fracture mechanisms, respectively. Morphological observations of blends with high-molecular-weight PC demonstrated the presence of detached droplets and rods of PC in the PP matrix, along with composite core–shell and rod-like particles. Micrographs of the fracture surfaces confirmed the proposed mechanisms, given the presence of stretched (debonded) PC (SEBS) cores encapsulated by SEBS (PC), which require more (less) energy to achieve fracture. The correlation between the mechanical and morphological properties proves that decreasing core diameter and shell thickness has positive effects on the impact strength but decreases the Young’s modulus.     

Studies on binary and ternary blends of polypropylene with SEBS,PS, and HDPE. II. Tensile and impact properties

Studies are reported on tensile and impact properties of several binary and ternary blends of polypropylene (PP), styrene-b-ethylene-co-butylene-b-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polystyrene (PS). The blend compositions of the binary blends PP/X were 10 wt % X and 90 wt % PP, while those of the ternary blends PP/X/Y were 10 wt % of X and 90 wt % of PP/Y, or 10 wt % Y and 90 wt % PP/X (PP/Y and PP/X were of identical composition 90:10); X, Y being SEBS, HDPE, or PS. The results are interpreted for the effect of each individual component by comparing the binary blends with the reference system PP, and the ternary blends with the respective binary blends as the reference systems. The ternary blend PP/SEBS/HDPE showed properties distinctly superior to those of PP/SEBS/PS or the binary blends PP/SEBS and PP/HDPE. Differences in the tensile yield behavior of the different samples and their correlation with impact strength suggested shear yielding as the possible mechanism of enhancement of impact strength. Scanning electron microscopic study of the impact fractured surfaces also supports the shear yielding mechanism of impact toughening of these blends.     

Melt rheology and interfacial properties of binary and ternary blends of PS,EOC, and SEBS

This works systematically investigates the interfacial properties of the binary and the ternary blends based on polystyrene (PS), ethylene octene copolymer (EOC), and styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) by analyzing the melt linear rheological behavior of the blends and neat components. Moreover, the relationship between rheology, phase morphology, and mechanical properties of PS/EOC ternary blends with various quantities of SEBS were studied. The surface shear modulus (β) and interfacial tension values obtained by Palierne model indicated that the EOC/SEBS blend has the best interfacial properties, while the lowest interaction was found for PS/EOC blend. Based on the Palierne model and Harkin's spreading coefficients a core–shell type morphology with EOC phase encapsulated by the SEBS shell dispersed in the PS matrix was determined for the ternary blends. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed that both fibrillar and droplet forms of dispersed phase could be developed during the blending of PS and EOC in presence of SEBS. The extent of fibrillar morphology and interfacial interactions in PS/EOC/SEBS ternary blends was dependent on the SEBS content. The improvement of the mechanical properties of PS/EOC blends in the presence of SEBS was evidenced by the tensile and impact resistance experiments. The tensile strength reinforcement was more pronounced for the ternary blends with more fibrillar dispersed phase. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48791.     

Glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene/EPDM blend. I. Melt rheological properties

Melt rheological properties of the blend of isotactic polypropylene (PP) and ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) at varying ratios and of the glass fiber (GF) filled PP and PP/EPDM blend by varying both GF loading and blending ratio of the polyblend matrix are studied. Rheological measurements at 220°C in shear rate range 10¹?10⁴s^?1 were made on a capillary rheometer. Scanning electron micrographs of the extrudates are presented to show the morphology and the alignment of the glass fibers with respect to the flow direction. Variations of pseudoplasticity index, melt viscosity, and melt elasticity with EPDM content in PP/EPDM blend, and with varying GF content at any given composition of the matrix in PP/EPDM/GF ternary system, in the studied range are presented and discussed. Resultes on melt viscosity and melt elasticity show (i) reduced effect of GF at high shear rates on these properties and (ii) upward deviation of melt viscosity versus shear rate curve at low shear rates. A change in flow behavior in presence of GF is observed around a critical shear rate 2 × 10³ s^?1 and is attributed to the difference of interaction of GF and the dispersed rubber droplets at high and low shear rates. Elastic recovery showed nonequilibrium behavior at low shear rates.     

Study on morphology and viscoelastic properties of PP/PET/SEBS ternary blend and their fibers

The morphology development of polypropylene (PP)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene (SEBS) ternary blends and their fibers were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with the melt linear viscoelastic measurements. The morphology of the blends was also predicted by using Harkin's spreading coefficient approach. The samples varying in composition with PP as the major phase and PET and SEBS as the minor phases were considered. Although SEM of the binary blends showed matrix‐dispersed type morphology, the ternary blend samples exhibited a morphological feature in which the dispersed phase formed aggregates consisting of both PET and SEBS particles distributed in the PP matrix. The SEM of the blend samples containing 30 and 40 wt % of total dispersed phase showed an agglomerated structure formed between the aggregates. The SEM of the PP/PET binary fiber blends showed long well‐oriented microfibrils of PET whereas in the ternary blends, the microfibrils were found to have lower aspect ratio with a fraction of the SEBS stuck on the microfibril fracture surfaces. These results were attributed to a core‐shell type morphology in which the PET and SEBS formed the core‐shells distributed in the matrix. The melt viscoelastic behavior of the ternary blends containing less than 30 wt % of the total dispersed phase was found to be similar to the matrix and binary blend samples whereas the samples containing 30 and 40 wt % of dispersed phases exhibited a pronounced viscosity upturn and nonterminal storage modulus in low frequency range. These results were found to be in good agreement with the morphological results. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Rheological properties and crystalline structure of the dynamically cured EPDM and PP/HDPE ternary blends

The rheological properties and crystalline structure of the polyolefin ternary blends of EPDM/polypropylene/high density polyethylene were studied. Blends were prepared in a laboratory internal mixer by two different methods. In blend–cure process, blending and curing were performed simultaneously and EPDM was cured by dicumyl peroxide (DCP) in the presence of PP/HDPE under shear. The cure–blend was to cure EPDM alone first under shear (dynamic curing) and then mix the cured EPDM with PP and HDPE. The effect of DCP concentration, intensity of the shear mixing, and the rubber/plastic composition were studied using capillary rheometer and X-ray diffractometer. The PP-rich ternary blends showed the effect of the mechanooxidative degradation of PP by shear and peroxide. The melt viscosity increased with increasing DCP concentration in blends of EPDM-rich compositions. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the inclusion of 25 wt % of linear EPDM in the PP/HDPE mixture for the PP-rich ternary blends changed the crystal structure of polypropylene component in the ternary blends. However, the dynamic curing did not alter the crystal structure of PP or HDPE in the blends.     

PP/丙烯基弹性体/SEBS医用热塑性弹性体的性能

以聚丙烯(PP)、丙烯基弹性体和苯乙烯-乙烯-丁烯-苯乙烯嵌段共聚物(SEBS)为主要原材料,采用熔融共混改性方法制备PP/丙烯基弹性体和PP/丙烯基弹性体/SEBS两种热塑性弹性体。采用转矩流变仪、拉伸试验机、硬度计和雾度计分别对共混体系的流变性能、拉伸性能、硬度和透光率进行分析与表征。结果表明,随着PP/丙烯基弹性体配比的增加,二元共混体系的平衡扭矩降低、硬度(邵A)提高、透光率变好、断裂伸长率增加,当其配比为1∶1时,共混体系的拉伸强度达到最大值(34.2 MPa);当PP与丙烯基弹性体配比为1:1不变时,随着SEBS含量增加,三元共混体系的平衡扭矩增大、硬度(邵A)减小、透光率变差、断裂伸长率提高;当PP、丙烯基弹性体和SEBS配比为47.5∶47.5∶5时,共混体系的透光率可达87%,硬度(邵A)为87,拉伸强度为35.2 MPa,断裂伸长率为750%,100%定伸强度为11.8 MPa,可满足医疗输液器械的要求。     

PE-LLD/SEBS-g-MAH/POE-g-MAH共混体系流变性能的研究

在双螺杆挤出机中用马来酸酐（MAH）分别对乙烯-辛烯共聚物（POE）、氢化苯乙烯-丁二烯-苯乙烯嵌段共聚物（SEBS）进行熔融接枝,用密炼机对线形低密度聚乙烯（PE-LLD）、POE-g-MAH和SEBS-g-MAH进行熔融共混,用毛细管流变仪对PE-LLD/SEBS-g-MAH二元体系和PE-LLD/POE-g-MAH/SEBS-g-MAH三元体系的流变行为进行研究。结果表明,LLDPE/POE-g-MAH/SEBS-g-MAH共混体系是典型的假塑性流体;体系的表观黏度随着SEBS-g-MAH组分含量的增加而增加,POE-g-MAH对共混体系表观黏度的影响较小。     

Rheological behaviors of glass bead‐ and wollastonite‐filled polypropylene composites modified with thermoplastic elastomers

Steady‐ and oscillatory‐shear rheological behaviors of polypropylene/glass bead (PP/GB) and PP/wollastonite (PP/W) melts modified with thermoplastic elastomers, poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene) copolymer (SEBS) and the corresponding block copolymer grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA), were examined by means of a parallel‐plate rheometer. With adding the elastomers (SEBS and SEBS‐g‐MA) and fillers (spherical GB and acicular W) to PP, viscosity especially at low shear rates and shear‐thinning flow behavior at high shear rates were pronounced as evidenced quantitatively by Carreau–Yasuda (CY) parameters, but Cox–Merz analogy became weakened. Besides, melt‐elasticity in terminal region and relaxation time (t_c) in crossing point increased, indicating an enhancement in quasi‐solid behavior of molten PP. Comparing with the elastomers, rheological behaviors of molten PP were more influenced with adding the rigid fillers, especially with W due to distinct acicular shape of W particles. SEBS‐g‐MA elastomer more affected rheological behaviors of the ternary composites than SEBS elastomer, implying that SEBS elastomer and the filler particles behaved individually (i.e., development of separate microstructure) in (PP/GB)/SEBS and (PP/W)/SEBS ternary composites, but core‐shell microstructure developed with strong interfacial adhesion by adding SEBS‐g‐MA elastomer, and the filler particles encapsulated with the thick SEBS‐g‐MA elastomer interlayer (i.e., core‐shell particles) acted like neither big elastomer particles nor like individual rigid particles in melt‐state. Moreover, effects of SEBS‐g‐MA elastomer reached a maximum on rheological behaviors of (PP/W)/SEBS‐g‐MA ternary composite, indicating a synergy between core‐shell microstructure and acicular W particles. Correlations between oscillatory‐shear flow properties and microstructures of the blends and composites were evaluated using Cole–Cole (CC), Han–Chuang (HC), and van Gurp–Palmen (vGP) plots. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics     

Melt-rheological properties of PP/EVA blend

This paper describes a study of melt-rheological properties of the binary blend of isotactic polypropylene (PP) and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) at varying blending ratios (from 0 to 40 wt % EVA content) and using three samples of EVA containing different vinyl acetate contents (VA %), viz. 9, 12, and 19%. Measurements made on a capillary rheometer at three different temperatures (210, 220, and 230°C) in a shear stress range of 10⁴–10⁶ Pa (shear rate 10¹–10⁴ s^?1) are presented and discussed for the effects of blend composition and shear stress on the flow curves, melt viscosity and melt elasticity. Morphology of the blend studied through scanning electron microscopy revealed distinct differences in size and number density of dispersed EVA droplets, which are discussed in terms of the variation of average size and number density of the dispersed EVA droplets as a function of blend composition and shear stress. Melt-rheological properties and morphology of dispersion are correlated and found quite consistent.     

PET/PC blends: Effect of chain extender and impact strength modifier on their structure and properties

Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) affects the morphology, rheological, mechanical, and relaxation properties, as well as tendency to crystallize of PET in PET/PC/(PP/EPDM) ternary blends produced by the reactive extrusion. Irrespective of the blend phase structure, the introduction of MDI increases the melt viscosity (MFI dropped), resulting from an increase in the molecular weight of the polymer chains; the PET crystallinity was also reduced. MDI favors compatibility of PET with PC in PET/PC/(PP/EPDM) blends. This is explained by intensified interphase interactions on the level of segments of macromolecules as well as monomer units. The presence of MDI causes a substantial rise in the dynamic shear modulus within the high‐elastic region of PET (for temperature range between T_g,PET and that of PET cold crystallization); the processes of PET cold crystallization and melt crystallization become retarded; the glass‐transition temperatures for PET and PC become closer to each other. MDI affects insignificantly the blend morphology or the character of interactions between the disperse PP/EPDM blend and PET/PC as a matrix. PP/EPDM reduces the intensity of interphase interactions in a PET/PC/(PP/EPDM), but a rise in the degree of material heterogeneity. MDI does not change the mechanism of impact break‐down in the ternary blends mentioned above. Increased impact strength of MDI‐modified materials can be explained by higher cohesive strength and resistance to shear flow at impact loading. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Evaluation of mechanical properties of polypropylene/polycarbonate/SEBS ternary polymer blends using Taguchi experimental analysis

In this work, ternary polymer blends based on polypropylene (PP)/polycarbonate (PC)/poly(styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene) (SEBS) triblock copolymer and a reactive maleic anhydride grafted SEBS (SEBS‐g‐MAH) at fixed compositions are prepared using twin‐screw extruder at different levels of die temperature (235‐245‐255°C), screw speed (70‐100‐130 rpm), and blending sequence (M1‐M2‐M3). In M₁ procedure, all of the components are dry blended and extruded simultaneously using Brabender twin‐screw extruder, whereas in M₂ procedure, PC, SEBS, and SEBS‐g‐MAH minor phases are first preblended in twin‐screw extruder and after granulating are added to PP continuous phase in twin‐screw extruder. Consequently, in M₃ procedure, PP and SEBS‐g‐MAH are first preblended and then are extruded with other components. The influence of these parameters as processing conditions on mechanical properties of PP/PC/SEBS ternary blends is investigated using L9 Taguchi experimental design. The responding variables are impact strength and tensile properties (Young's modulus and yield stress), which are influenced by the morphology of ternary blend, and the results are used to perform the analysis of mean effect as well. It is shown that the resulted morphology, tensile properties, and impact strength are influenced by extrusion variables. Additionally, the optimum processing conditions of ternary PP/PC/SEBS blends were achieved via Taguchi analysis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Melt rheological properties of polypropylene–polyamide6 blends compatibilized with maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene

The melt rheological properties of binary uncompatibilized polypropylene–polyamide6 (PP–PA6) blends and ternary blends compatibilized with maleic anhydride‐grafted PP (PP–PP‐g‐MAH–PA6) were studied using a capillary rheometer. The experimental shear viscosities of blends were compared with those calculated from Utracki's relation. The deviation value δ between these two series of data was obtained. In binary PP–PA6 blends, when the compatibility between PP and PA6 was poor, the deformation recovery of dispersed PA6 particles played the dominant role during the capillary flow, the experimental values were smaller than those calculated, and δ was negative. The higher the dispersed phase content, the more deformed the droplets were and the lower the apparent shear viscosity. Also, the absolute value of δ increased with the dispersed phase composition. In ternary PP–PP‐g‐MAH–PA6 systems, when the compatibility between PP and PA6 was enhanced by PP‐g‐MAH, the elongation and break‐up of the dispersed particles played the dominant role, and the experimental values were higher than calculated. It was observed that the higher the dispersion of the PA6 phase, the higher the δ values of the ternary blends and the larger the positive deviation. Unlike uncompatibilized blends, under high shear stress with higher dispersed phase content, the PP‐g‐PA6 copolymer in compatibilized blends was pulled out from the interface and formed independent micelles in the matrix, which resulted in reduced total apparent shear viscosity. The δ value decreased with increasing shear stress. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of blend ratio on bulk properties and matrix-fibril morphology of polypropylene/nylon 6 polyblend fibers

Ternary blends of polypropylene (PP), nylon 6 (N6) and polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PP/N6/PP-g-MAH) as compatibilizer with up to 50 wt% of N6 were investigated. PP-g-MAH content was varied from 2.5 to 10%. Blends of the two polymers PP/N6 (80/20) without the compatibilizer were also prepared using an internal batch mixer and studied. The ternary blends showed different rheological properties at low and high shear rates. The difference depended on the amount of N6 dispersed phase. Co-continuous morphology was observed for the blend containing 50% N6. This blend also exhibited higher viscosity at low shear rate and lower viscosity at high shear rates than the value calculated by the simple rule of mixture. At higher shear rates, viscosity was lower than that given by the rule of mixture for all blend ratios. An increase in viscosity was observed in the 80/20 PP/N6 blend after the concentration of the interfacial agent (PP-g-MAH) was increased. Polyblends containing up to 30% N6 could be successfully melt spun into fibers. DSC results showed that dispersed and matrix phases in the fiber maintained crystallinity comparable to or better than the corresponding values found in the neat fibers. The dispersed phase was found to contain fibrils. By using SEM and LSCM analyses we were able to show that the N6 droplets coalesced during melt spinning which led to the development of fibrillar morphology.     

Binary and ternary blends of polyethylene,polypropylene, and polyamide 6,6: The effect of compatibilization on the morphology and rheology

The effects of two compatibilizing agents, polystyrene–poly(ethylene butylene)–polystyrene copolymer (SEBS) and SEBS‐grafted maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MAH), on the morphology of binary and ternary blends of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyamide 6,6 were investigated with scanning electron microscopy and melt rheology measurements. The addition of the compatibilizers led to finer dispersions of the particles of the minor component and a decrease in their size; this induced a significant change in the blend morphology. The rheological measurements confirmed the increased interaction between the blend components, especially with SEBS‐g‐MAH as the compatibilizer. New covalent bonds could be expected to form through an amine–anhydride reaction. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1976–1985, 2004     

The control of miscibility of PP/EPDM blends by adding lonomers and applying dynamic vulcanization

The control of miscibility for isotactic polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) has been attempted by adding poly(ethylene-comethacrylic acid) (EMA) ionomers and by applying dynamic vulcanization. The rheological properties, crystallization behavior, and morphology of the dynamically vulcanized EPDM/PP/ionomer ternary blends were investigated with a Rheometrics dynamic spectrometer (RDS), a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Two kinds of EMA ionomers neutralized with different metal ions (Na⁺ and ZN⁺⁺) were investigated. Blends were prepared on a laboratory internal mixer at 190°C. Blending and curing were performed simultaneously, i.e., EPDM was vulcanized with dicumyl peroxide (DCP) in the presence of PP/ionomer. The composition of PP and EPDM was fixed at 50/50 by wt% and the contents of EMA ionomer were vaired from 5 to 20 parts based on the total amount of PP and EPDM. It was found that the addition of ionomers and the application of the dynamic vulcanization were effective in enhancing the miscibility of PP and EPDM. The structure of the blends was controlled by the following three component phases, i.e., the phase of the dynamially valcanized EPDM, PP, and Zn-neutralized ionomer. The ternary blends showed more miscibility than the PP/EPDM binary blend. This is due to the thermoplastic interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of the ternary blends. The structure and properties of the ternary blends differed, depending on the types and contents of ionomer, i.e., the ternary blend containing Na-neutralized ionomer did not show a thermoplastic IPN structure clearly, even though the blend was prepared by dynamic vulcanization. The ternary blend containing Zn-neutralized ionomer clearly showed the behavior of a thermoplastic IPN when the contents of ionomer and DCP were 15 parts and 1.0 part, respectively.     

Dynamic rheological properties of binary PP/PA and ternary PP/PA/GF blends

The dynamic rheological behavior was investigated for binary polypropylene (PP) - polyamide-6 (PA-6) and ternary PP-PA-6-glass fiber (GF) blends. The observed trends are related to the blend morphology and the partitioning of the GF within the three component blends. The dynamic and shear viscosity results show a good overlap for the PP homopolymer, within the shear rates studied. The addition of PA-6 and/or glass fibers to the PP causes significant deviations between the two rheological behaviors. This reflects the fibrillation of PA-6 and the orientation of glass fibers during shear rheometry, which reduce the blends' shear viscosity. The effect of PA-6 content on dynamic viscosity is less significant than for shear viscosity, owing to the absence of morphological structuring. The addition of PA-6 to PP increased the principal relaxation time of the binary blends. The addition of GF to these binary blends gave a further increase in the principal relaxation time.