Adhesion of propylene–ethylene copolymers to high‐density polyethylene |
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Authors: | YJ Lin BC Poon GR Marchand A Hiltner E Baer |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Center for Applied Polymer Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106‐7202;2. The Dow Chemical Company, Freeport, Texas 77541 |
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Abstract: | The adhesion of some propylene–ethylene (P/E) copolymers to polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) was studied in order to compare them with other olefin copolymers as compatibilizers for PP/HDPE blends. A one‐dimensional model of the compatibilized blends was fabricated by layer‐multiplying coextrusion. The microlayered tapes consisted of many alternating layers of PP and HDPE with a thin tie‐layer inserted at each interface. The thickness of the tie‐layer varied from 0.1 to 15 μm, which included thicknesses comparable to those of the interfacial layer in a compatibilized blend. In the T‐peel test, the P/E copolymers delaminated at the HDPE interface. An elastomeric P/E with higher ethylene content exhibited substantially higher delamination toughness than a more thermoplastic P/E with lower ethylene content. Inspection of the crack‐tip damage zone revealed that a change from deformation of the entire tie‐layer to formation of a localized yielded zone was responsible. By treating the damage zone as an Irwin plastic zone, it was demonstrated that a critical stress controlled the delamination toughness. The temperature dependence of the delamination toughness was also measured. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers |
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