Zh. Yao et al., Morphology, thermal behavior, and mechanical properties of PA6/UHMWPE blends with HDPE-g-MAH as a compatibilizing agent, J APPL POLY, 75(2), 2000, pp. 232-238
A functionalized high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with maleic anhydride (MA
H) was prepared using a reactive extruding method. This copolymer was used
as a compatibilizer of blends of polyamide 6 (PA6) and ultrahigh molecular
weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Morphologies were examined by a scanning elec
tron microscope. It was found that the dimension of UHMWPE and HDPE domains
in the PA6 matrix decreased dramatically, compared with that of the uncomp
atibilized blending system. The size of the UHMWPE domains was reduced from
35 mu m (PA6/UHMWPE, 80/20) to less than 4 mu m (PA6/UHMWPE/HDPE-g-MAH, 80
/20/20). The tensile strength and Izod impact strength of PA6/UHMWPE/HDPE-g
-MAH (80/20/20) were 1.5 and 1.6 times as high as those of PA6/UHMWPE: (80/
20), respectively. This behavior could be attributed to chemical reactions
between the anhydride groups of HDPE-g-MAH and the terminal amino groups of
PA6 in PA6/UHMWPE/HDPE-g-MAH blends. Thermal analysis was performed to con
firm that the above chemical reactions took place during the blending proce
ss. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.