Morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene/maleated styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer blends

摘要

The morphology and mechanical properties of blends of isotactic polypropylene (i-PP) and a maleated butadiene-styrene-butadiene triblock copolymer with maleic anhydride (SBS-MAH), i-PP/SBS-MAH, were investigated and compared with those of corresponding blends of i-PP and a styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer (SBS), i-PP/SBS. The blends were prepared in a mixer at 190degreesC with 5-25 wt % elastomer compositions. The blends exhibited a two-phase morphology with a disperse elastomer phase in the continuous i-PP matrix. The size and shape of the elastomer particles and the mechanical properties of the blends depended on the nature and concentration of the elastomer. The i-PP/SBS-MAH blends showed an impact strength superior to that of the corresponding i-PP/SBS blends. These results were attributed to the formation of the graft copolymer during the melt blending, which was verified by Fourier transform infrared. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [References: 26]