Ionomer addition has been investigated as a compatibilizer for the immiscib
le polypropylene (PP)/Vectra B 950 (VB). Both modified and unmodified blend
s as a reference, with VB contents up to 30% were obtained by direct inject
ion moulding. The crystallinity of PP/VB was barely influenced by the prese
nce of the ionomer. The compatibilization leads to the presence of thinner
fibres that broke during testing. Compatibilization reduced toughness, but
at VB contents of 15 wt% or more, both the modulus of elasticity and the te
nsile strength significantly increased with respect to the uncompatibilized
blends. The properties of both compatibilized and uncompatibilized blends,
as a whole, were similar in the case of PP modified by either maleic anhyd
ride or ionomer addition. However, favourable experimental conditions such
as thinner specimens or higher compatibilizer content were used in the case
of maleic anhydride modified PP. This indicates a more important positive
effect: on compatibilization by means of ionomer addition. (C) 2000 Elsevie
r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.