This document discusses compatibilization of polyamide/maleated elastomer blends. It examines using maleated elastomers to improve compatibility between polyamides and elastomers through reactions between the polyamide's amine groups and the elastomer's maleic anhydride groups. The document studies the effect of compatibilization on rheological properties, thermal properties, and morphology of various polyamide/elastomer blends including polyamide 6/natural rubber, polyamide 6/EPR, and polyamide 6,66/SEBS blends. It finds that compatibility between the polymer blends and their rheological, thermal and morphological properties can be improved by the addition of maleated el

1. Compatibilization of
Polyamide / Maleated Elastomer Blends
1

2. Polymer Blend
The mixture of two or more polymers that do not miscible;
most polymer blends are low compatibility or incompatibility.
Such systems generally exhibit poor mechanical properties.
>> Increasing compatibility of polymer blends is
important.
2

3. >>The addition of a pre-
made block or graft copolymer.
>>The addition of a precursor
that can induce in situ coupling
reaction of functionalized polymers
to form a block or graft copolymer in
either rubber or plastic phase.
The compatibilization of polymer blends is carried out
using two main routes
3
Schematic model illustratingthe locationof graft
copolymer at blend interface (Thomas et.al.,1998)

4. To induce compatibility, elastomer modified with maleic
anhydried are used as blend component. This polar polymer that are
responsible for an increase interfacial interaction between PA and
elastomers.
It is well known that most of these blends are incompatible
and present inferior physical properties.
4
To investigate the effect of compatibilization on
rheological properties, thermal properties and morphology of
PA / Elastomer (NR, EPR, SEBS)

5. 5
(Thomas, et.al., 1999)
(Carone, et.al., 1999)
Possible chemical reaction

6.  Torque rheology
 Thermal analysis
 Morphology
6

7.  Torque rheology
7
Fig. 1. Torque of polyamide 6/NR and polyamide 6/(NR 3 wt% MA) as a functionof NR
content. Torque readings were taken after 6 min at 240oC and 60 rpm.

8. 8
Fig. 2. Storage modulus (E’) of Polyamide 6 / NR and Polyamide 6 / NR 3% MA.
 Thermal analysis
(DMA)

9. 9
 Morphology
(TEM)
Fig. 3. TEM photomicrographsof blends of polyamide 6/NR : Rubber particles are stained
dark by OSO4.
85/15 75/25
PA6/NR 3 wt% MA
PA6/NR
PA6/NR
PA6/NR 3 wt% MA

10.  Morphology
10
Fig. 4. Average diameterof the rubber particles calculatedfrom the TEM micrographs

11. Rheological properties
Thermal properties
11
 The blending of EPR/Nylon 6 ; EPR modify with MA and
study effect of proportion of EPR-g-MA compatibiliser.

12. 12
 Torque rheology
Fig. 5. Brabender torque response at 240oC and 60 rpm for nylon 6 and EPR-g- MA

13. 13
Fig. 6. E’ curves for blends of EPR-g-MA and nylon 6.
 Thermal properties
(DMTA)

14. 14
 Thermal properties
(DMTA)
Fig. 7. Tan delta curves for blends of EPR-g-MA and nylon 6.

15. 15
Effect of concentration of SEBS-g-MA compatibiliser on
Rheological properties
Morphology
 The blending of SEBS/Nylon 6,66 and SEBS/Nylon6
: (20/80) .

16. 16
 Torque rheology
Fig. 8. Brabender torque response at 240oC and 60 rpm for 80% nylon 6,66 and nylon6
with 20% SEBS-g- MA blend.

17. 17
 Morphology
(TEM)
Fig. 9. TEM photomicrographsof blends of nylon 6,66 / SEBS-g-MA (20/80);
PA phase is stained dark with phosphotungstic acid.
0%MA 0.5%MA 1%MA

18. 18
Conclusion
 The compatibility of the blend of PA and
maleated elastomer could be improved by the
reaction of amine groups and maleic anhydride.
 Rheological properties, thermal properties and
morphology indicate that compatibility of
polymer blend .

19. 19
References
Carone Jr, E., Kopak, U., Goncalves, M.C. Nunes, S.P. 1999. In situ compatibilization of polyamide
6/natural rubber blends with maleic Anhydride. Polymer. 41. 5929–5935.
Oshinski,A. J., Keskkula, H., Paul, D. R., 1996. The Effect of Polyamide end-groupconfigurationon
morphology and toughnessof blends with maleated elastomers.Applied Polymer
Science. 61. 623-640.
Thomas, Sabu., Groeninckx,G., 1998. Reactive compatibilisation of heterogeneous ethylene propylene
rubber (EPM)/nylon 6 blends by the additionof compatibiliser precursorEPM-g-MA.
Polymer. 40. 5799–5819.
Tomova, D., Kressler, J., Radusch, H.-J. 2000. Phase behaviour in ternary polyamide 6/polyamide 66/
elastomer blends. Polymer. 41. 7773–7783.