Polypropylene blends with a phenoxy

Polypropylene (PP) blends with a phenoxy have been prepared in various compositions using a Brabender Plasticorder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed a clean two-phase morphology. The domains were larger when PP formed the dispersed phase, probably due to the greater melt viscosity of PP. The melting peak temperature (T_m) of PP decreased marginally, whereas the glass transition temperature (T_g) of phenoxy increased by 5-10°C, in the blends. X-ray diffraction measurements indicated that PP crystallizes in a hexagonal β-form in 50/50 and 30/70 (PP/phenoxy) blends. Mechanical properties of the blends generally showed negative deviation from the additivity rule, perhaps due to the inherently immiscible nature of the blends. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.