Processing conditions and compatibilizing effects on reinforcement of polypropylene-liquid crystalline polymer blends

The effect of the processing conditions in respect to the presence of malei c anhydride-grafted polypropylene on the thermomechanical properties of two series of polypropylene-liquid crystalline polymer blends has been studied . Two types of Liquid Crystalline Polymers (LCPs) which were copolyesters, namely Vectra A and Vectra B have been used. A systematic study of processi ng conditions such as die temperature, speed of mixing, and speed of elonga tion, as well as the presence of compatibilizer, has been made. The blends were tested in terms of tensile experiments and dynamic mechanical analysis . The experimental data were connected with interesting remarks about the m orphology of the materials, and this analysis has been supported with Scann ing Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs.