Toughening and compatibilization of polypropylene/polyamide‐6 blends with a maleated–grafted ethylene‐<i>co</i>‐vinyl acetate

Abstract

Abstract In this article, maleated–grafted ethylene‐ co ‐vinyl acetate (EVA‐ g ‐MA) was used as the interfacial modifier for polypropylene/polyamide‐6 (PP/PA6) blends, and effects of its concentration on the mechanical properties and the morphology of blends were investigated. It was found that the addition of EVA‐ g ‐MA improved the compatibility between PP and PA6 and resulted in a finer dispersion of dispersed PA6 phase. In comparison with uncompatibilized PP/PA6 blend, a significant reduction in the size of dispersed PA6 domain was observed. Toluene‐etched micrographs confirmed the formation of interfacial copolymers. Mechanical measurement revealed that the addition of EVA‐ g ‐MA markedly improved the impact toughness of PP/PA6 blend. Fractograph micrographs revealed that matrix shear yielding began to occur when EVA‐ g ‐MA concentration was increased upto 18 wt %. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99:3300–3307, 2006