EFFECT OF ELASTOMER ON POLYPROPYLENE NYLON-12 BLENDS/

Various compositions of polypropylene (PP)/nylon-12 blends with elasto mer were prepared. Morphologies and mechanical properties of the blend s were studied. In particular, the effect of ethylene-propylene (EP) e lastomer and maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene-propylene elastomer (Ma -g-EP) on the PP/nylon-12 blends were investigated. The results showed that PP/nylon-12 blends have inferior mechanical properties because o f their poor compatibility and dispersion. The EP elastomer has a limi ted effect on the blends since the mechanical properties of PP/nylon-1 2 blends were controlled by their interface. The Ma-g-EP elastomer imp roved the mechanical properties of PP/nylon-12 blends through improvem ent of the interface between PP and nylon-12, and compatibility betwee n the elastomer and nylon-12. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize micro structures. The dispersion of components and the compatibility between PP and nylon-12 were significantly improved with addition of the Ma-g -EP elastomer.