Using ionomer as a compatibilizer in polymer blends and nanocomposite fiber

Abstract

This dissertation is divided into two parts: description of the investigation of the ability of ionomers to compatibilizer PA6/LDPE blends and the effect of draw ratio on mechanical and the ability to dye polypropylene-organoclay nanocomposite fiber by using sodium ionomer as a compatibilizer. For the first part of this dissertation two blend compositions, PA6 80/LDPE 20 and PA6 20/LDPE 80, and ethylene methacrylic acid partially neutralized with a metal ion, either sodium, zinc or lithium, were used as a compatibilizer. Neutralization levels were 11%, 33% and 55% wt% (+/-0.5%) for the three cations. The mechanical, thermomechanical, and morphology properties of the blends were improved with the addition of compatibilizer. The rheological properties were also measured. Using zinc and lithium ionomer as a compatibilizer enabled the highest shear/elongational viscosity in PA6 rich phase and LDPE rich phase respectively. Materials with compatibilizer are more Newtonian, i.e. less shear thinning, as well as having lower die swell. For the second part, polypropylene is hard to dye due to its non polar aliphatic structure and high crystallinity. Dye-able polypropylene fibers were prepared by adding organocaly into the polymer to act as dye absorbers. Results showed that PP/organoclay nonocomposite fiber could absorb dye better than the unfilled fiber.