CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATION OF POLY(PROPYLENE-B-METHYL METHACRYLATE) AS A COMPATIBILIZER FOR POLYPROPYLENE POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) BLEND

A diblock copolymer of propylene and methyl methacrylate (MMA), prepared by the living coordination polymerization of propylene followed by the subsequent polymerization of MMA, was characterized in detail, and the effect of the copolymer as a compatibilizer for the blend of isotactic polypropylene (PP) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was investigated. The block copolymer showed a very sharp molecular weight distribution (M(w)/M(n) = 1.1) and two glass transitions at - 3-degrees-C and 105-degrees-C, which might be due to T(g) of polypropylene block sequence and PMMA one, respectively. Syndiotactic sequence was found to be dominant in each block sequence. Addition of small amount of the block copolymer into PP/PMMA blends reduced both PMMA particle size and PP spherulite size. Good adhesion of the interface between PP and PMMA was achieved by the intervention of the block copolymer, resulting in a great improvement of mechanical properties of the blend.