MORPHOLOGY, THERMAL-BEHAVIOR, AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF PA1010 PP AND PA1010/PP-G-GMA BLENDS/

The modification of polypropylene (PP) was accomplished by melt grafti ng glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) on its molecular chains. The resulting PP-g-GMA was used to prepare binary blends of polyamide 1010 (PA1010) and PP-g-GMA. Different blend morphologies were observed by scanning e lectron microscopy (SEM) according to the nature and content of PA1010 used. Comparing the PA1010/PP-g-GMA and PA1010/PP binary blends, the size of the domains of PP-g-GMA were much smaller than that of PP at t he same compositions. It was found that mechanical properties of PA101 0/PP-g-GMA blends were obviously better than that of PA1010/PP blends, and the mechanical properties were significantly influenced by wettin g conditions for uncompatibilized and compatibilized blends. A differe nt dependence of the flexural modulus on water was found for PA1010/PP and PA1010/PP-g-GMA. These behaviors could be attributed to the chemi cal interactions between the two components and good dispersion in PA1 010/PP-g-GMA blends. Thermal and rheological analyses were performed t o confirm the possible chemical reactions taking place during the blen ding process. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.