Effects of an interfacial agent on the physico-chemical characteristics of polypropylene / polyamide 6 blends.

The present work reports investigations about the structure and the thermal behavior of blends prepared by mixing, at different weight ratios, poly(propylene) (more precisely, a propylene/ethylene random copolymer containing 6% ethylene) with polyamide 6, in the presence of poly(propylene) grafted with 1% of maleic anhydride used as a compatibilizer agent. Blends without the compatibilizer were also prepared and analyzed. The poly(propylene) structural changes in the blends were determined by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) measurements. Differential scanning calorimetry, microscopic observations, and mechanical tests supported the occurrence of interfacial reactivity. The compatibilizing effect was confirmed by measuring the decrease of the interfacial tension between poly(propylene) and polyamide 6 due to the presence of the compatibilizer. Such a decrease resulted in improved dispersion and adhesion between the phases. A new material with interesting thermal, structural and mechanical properties was obtained.