Water crosslinking reactions of silane-crafted polyolefin blends

Water crosslinking reactions of LDPE, PP, LLDPE, and the LDPE/PP and LDPE/L LDPE blends are investigated. Degrees of crosslinking of these samples are quantitatively compared and discussed in detail in terms of crosslinking ab ility, phase-separation behavior, molecular weight (or viscosity), morpholo gy of the constituents in blends, or in the pure state. It is found that PP gives negligible crosslinking reactions in the pure state and in blends wi th LDPE. LDPE and LLDPE are both capable of giving considerable degrees of crosslinking, with LLDPE giving a higher degree of crosslinking than LDPE a t all conditions studied. Degrees of crosslinking of the LDPE/ LLDPE blends are not linearly but are zigzagly related to the compositions of the blend s with the LDPE/LLDPE = 50/50 blend giving a relatively high degree of cros slinking at 100, 120, and 140 degreesC for a certain time except the condit ion at 140 degreesC for 12 h compared with the LDPE/LLDPE = 75/25 and 25/75 blends. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.