Time-resolved light scattering and FTIR spectroscopic studies on blends of polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride and zinc salt of sulfonated EPDM ionomer

Time-resolved light scattering and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies were performed on blends of polypropylene-g-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH) and sulfonated EPDM ionomer neutralized with zinc cation (ZnSEPDM). The temperature exhibiting maximum crystalline growth rate (T-G,T-max) decreased as ZnSEPDM contents were increased. The results of wide-angle X-ray diffraction also confirmed that the degree of crystallinity of PP-g-MAH decreased when the content of the ionomer was increased. A shift in the glass transition temperatures of both EPDM and PP phases in the blends was observed, confirming the enhanced miscibility between PP and EPDM, It was concluded from the FTIR spectroscopic studies that the enhanced miscibility is caused by a specific interaction between PP-g-MAH and ZnSEPDM.