Effect of nylon 6 inclusions on the crystalline morphology of polypropylene-nylon 6 blends

Abstract

Crystallization behavior and crystalline morphology of plain polypropylene (PP) and its blend with 0 to 30 wt % nylon 6 were studied by the hot-stage polarized light microscopy method. Radial growth rate and the size and number of PP spherulites were measured as a function of both the isothermal crystallization temperature and the nylon 6 content of the blend. The study revealed that a reduction in the isothermal crystallization temperature from 135 to 120°C, for both the plain PP and its blend with nylon 6, leads to the formation of a large number of fast-growing, small spherulites. Moreover, the size and growth rate of PP spherulites decreased on increasing the nylon 6 content of the blend; whereas the number of PP spherulites decreased sharply on initial addition of 10% nylon 6 and, thereafter, increased slightly by further addition of nylon 6. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 1769–1775, 2000