Poly(phenylene oxide) and Renewable Polyamide 11 Blends Compatibilized by Ethylene-n-Octene Copolymer

Poly(phenylene oxide)/renewable polyamide 11 (PPO/PA11 20/80) blends toughened with glycidyl methacrylate grafted ethylene-n-octene copolymer (GEOC) were prepared in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The reaction between GEOC and PPO/PA11 blend was analyzed by gel content tests. The morphology of PPO/PA11 /GEOC blends was observed by scanning electron microscope. The SEM results showed that PPO formed the continuous phase, though it is a minority component of blends. With increasing GEOC content from 5 to 15 wt% the morphology of the blends transformed from droplet-matrix to co-continuous structure, in which both PAU and PPO phases are continuous. The blend with co-continuous morphology had better mechanical properties than those with droplet-matrix morphology. The impact strength of the PPO/PA11 /GEOC blends was much higher compared to the one without GEOC as well as PAU due to the compatibilizing effect, which was also proved by DSC analysis, rheological behavior (MFR, DMTA) and tensile properties.