Polypropylene/polyamide-6 blends:: influence of compatibilizing agent on interface domains

The influence of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) at the interface of immiscible, polypropylene (PP)/polyamide-6 (PA6) blends was studied by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The formation of a new copolymer at the interface between the domains and the matrix was investigated. The characterization of the interfacial copolymer was accomplished by carbonyl vibration of the imide group at 1674 cm(-1). The reduction of water absorption and the thermoanalysis experiments corroborated the imide linkage between the amino end groups of PA6 and the carboxylic groups of PP-g-MA. The modification of the PA6 particle size and the formation of the interfacial layer were characterized by microscopy and related to the reaction of the interfacial components. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.