Effect of Electron Beam Irradiation and Reactive Compatibilizers on Some Properties of Polypropylene and Epoxidized Natural Rubber Polymer Blends

Effect of reactive compatibilizers on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of polymer blends based essentially on polypropylene (PP) and different ratios of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) was investigated. The same properties were also, studied before and after electron beam irradiation to various doses. The results showed that the mechanical and thermal properties of unirradiated PP/ENR blends were improved after using the reactive compatibilizers: PP graft copolymer with maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH) or 1,6-hexandiol-diacrylate (HDDA). This improvement was attributed to the formation of interfacial bonding between PP and ENR phases during the melt processing. Further improvement in these properties was observed under effect of electron beam irradiation and the reactive compatibilizer. However, this effect was clear in the case of the monomer HDDA than PP-g-MAH. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs indicated that the morphology was improved by the addition of the reactive compatibilizers and electron beam irradiation. The wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) results indicated that the crystallinity of the blend was increased by the addition of the compatiblizing agents due to the plasticizing effect and/or the nucleatating properties of the compatibilizer. However, the crystallinity of the PP/ENR blend was decreased after electron beam irradiation.