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Blends of thermoplastic polyurethane and maleic‐anhydride grafted polyethylene. I: Morphology and mechanical properties
Author(s) -
Pötschke Petra,
Wallheinke Katrin,
Stutz Herbert
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.11492
Subject(s) - materials science , maleic anhydride , thermoplastic polyurethane , composite material , polyethylene , polymer blend , reactive extrusion , plastics extrusion , viscosity , thermoplastic , thermoplastic elastomer , polyurethane , particle size , elastomer , copolymer , chemical engineering , polymer , engineering
Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU) and polyethylene (PE) form immiscible blends with an extremely low compatibility. In order to improve the dispersion, stability, and properties of these blends, polyethylene was grafted with maleic anhydride (PE‐g‐MA). Subsequently, it was blended with a commercial polyester ‐ type TPU in a twin‐screw extruder. With PE‐g‐MA as blend component, the particle size was dramatically reduced in comparison with PE. Coalescence was significantly reduced and the increase in particle size with composition was less pronounced than in blends with PE. In addition, the phase adhesion and the mechanical properties were improved by using PE‐g‐MA as minor component. Grafting of the MA onto the PE leads to a decrease of the molecular weight, the melt viscosity, and the mechanical properties of the pure PE. Hence, the reactive blend system exhibits a lower viscosity ratio. Comparison of these results with those from uncompatibilized blends with different viscosity ratios revealed that the reduction in viscosity ratio has a big influence on the blend morphology and because of that on the mechanical properties. In addition, there is a further effect on morphology and properties caused by the reduction in interfacial tension, which results from the compatibilizer formed at the interface.