pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S16 - Special: Honorary symp. for Profs Carreau, Kamal and Vlachopoulos
Oral Presentation
 
 

Compatibilized Polylactide-Polyamide 11 Blends Containing Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes: Morphology, Rheological and Mechanical Properties

Mousavi Zeinab (1)*, Carreau Pierre J. (1), Heuzey Marie-Claude (1), Kamal Musa R. (2)

(1) Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal - QC - Canada, (2) Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University - QC - Canada

Polylactide-Polyamide 11 (PLA-PA11) blends with 75-25 wt% composition were prepared using an internal mixer. Reactive compatibilization was employed using Joncryl(TM) (ADR-4468), a modified acrylic copolymer epoxy. The effects of the compatibilizer on the morphology, rheological and mechanical and properties of the PLA-PA11 blends were examined. Initially, the reactivity of the compatibilizer with each of the blend components was evaluated using rheological characterization. Adding the compatibilizer raised the complex viscosities of both PLA and PA11, confirming the reaction between each of the polymers with the compatibilizer. In the case of blends, the effects of adding the compatibilizer and the mixing order with the blend components (e.g. simultaneous mixing or premixing with either of the components) on the blend morphology, rheological and mechanical properties were examined. A refined morphology and improved ductility were observed after reactive compatibilization, depending on the mixing strategy. The affinity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with each of the blend components was evaluated via morphological and rheological characterization. These tests indicated better affinity of the MWCNTs with the PLA compared to PA11. Moreover, the effect of adding MWCNTs on the blend properties was determined.