Influence of miscibility on the morphology and properties of polycarbonate/(maleic anhydride)-grafted-polypropylene blend

Abstract

Maleic-anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAH-g-PP) was added to polycarbonate (PC) as a processing agent. Its influence on the morphological, thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties of PC/MAH-g-PP blends was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical spectroscopy (DMS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic contact angle goniometry, and tensile and impact strength experiments. The results indicated that the processability and miscibility of the blends were improved significantly by addition of 5-20 wt% MAH-g-PP to PC. The melting temperature of MAH-g-PP increased as the relative composition of MAH-g-PP in the blends increased mainly because of enlargement of the crystallite size. The DSC, FTIR as well as SEM results strongly suggested that a chemical reaction might have taken place between the PC and MAH-g-PP. This chemical reaction could have contributed to the improvement of the mechanical properties of the blends and the miscibility between the PC and MAH-g-PP components.