Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Compatibilized Bio-sourced PA/Plasticized Starch Grafted PP Ternary Polymer Blends

Abstract

Abstract Polymer blends of biosourced polyamide (Rilsan XD) and thermoplastic starch grafted polypropylene (LAB4270) were processed by means of a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, using a solid epoxy resin (D.E.R. 664UE) as a compatibilizer. Morphologies as well as rheological, thermal and mechanical properties of the blends were characterized. The morphology of the reference blend was characterized by nodules of the micron order of magnitude of the dispersed phase (LAB4270) embedded in the polyamide matrix. Even though the morphologies of the blends were not impacted by the addition of the epoxy resin, the mechanical properties as well as the impact resilience were proved to be enhanced. The thermal properties of the blends were as well influenced. A shift of the crystallization temperatures and a decrease of the crystallization enthalpies of both the polypropylene and the PA XD were observed. Thus the addition of the epoxy resin as compatibilizer had proved to be truly effective to obtain a material mostly biosourced with mechanical properties that tend towards combined optimal properties of the different components of the blend.