THERMAL properties and morphology of Polypropylene/Polycarbonate/Polypropylene-Graft-Maleic anhydride blends

Abstract

This work investigates the effect of blending polycarbonate (PC) into polypropylene (PP) matrix polymer on thermal properties and morphology. The blends, containing 5% to 35% of polycarbonate and 5% compatibilizer, were compounded using twin-screw extruder and fabricated into standard tests samples using injection or compression molding. The compatibilizer used was polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed improved thermal degradation temperature of PP/PC/PP-g-MA blends compared to pure PP. As PC content increased, the thermal degradation temperature also improved. The highest improvement of thermal degradation temperature was 23.3%, demonstrated by 60/35/5 composition. It was found that the thermal stability of PP/PC blends was improved with the addition of PP-g-MA. PP-g-MA was suspected to enhance the phase adhesion between PP and PC, thus improving thermal stability. Microscopy analysis showed PC reinforcement phase existed as particulates dispersed in PP matrix phase. PC also was in irregular shapes of fibers or flakes in certain compositions, depending on PC fraction and compatibilizer content.