Conceptualizing Physical and Chemical Interactions in the Compatibilized HDPE/PA6 and HDPE/EVOH Pairs: Theoretical and Experimental Analyses

ABSTRACT

Physical/chemical interaction in blends of high-density polyethylene with polyamide 6 and polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol compatibilized with maleic anhydride-grafted high-density polyethylene was discussed. The performance of maleic anhydride-grafted high-density polyethylene was assessed by domain size variation and interfacial adhesion examination. Analysis of impact strength elucidated physical interaction improvement by compatibilization (entanglements and hydrogen bonding), while chemical reactions between ‒OH and ‒NH (from polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol and polyamide 6, respectively) and ‒COOH functional groups resulting from ring-opening of maleic anhydride determined interfacial adhesion reinforcement, where interfacial adhesion parameter changed from 0.75 for noncompatibilized to 0.96 compatibilized high-density polyethylene/polyamide 6, but remained unchanged for high-density polyethylene/polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol blends, from 0.98 to 1.02.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Compatibilized polymer blends
• fracture
• impact strength
• interfacial adhesion
• interfacial interaction

Acknowledgments

Our special gratitude is expressed to Professor Gert Heinrich, Head of Institute of Polymer Materials at the Leibnitz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, for help in sample preparation and characterization.