Modification of polyolefins with silicone copolymers. I. Processing behavior and surface characterization of PP and HDPE blended with silicone copolymers

Permanent surface modification of polypropylene and high‐density polyethylene was obtained by blending with small (0.1 to 5.0% by weight) amounts of silicone copolymers. A triblock polycaprolactone‐ b ‐polydimethylsiloxane copolymer and a multiblock polydimethylsiloxane–urea copolymer were used as modifiers. Blends were prepared in a twin‐screw extruder. Influences of the type and amount of the additive on the processing behavior and surface and bulk properties of the resulting systems were investigated. During processing, the additives also acted as very efficient processing aids, increasing the extruder output dramatically, up to 200%. Surface characterization by water‐contact angle measurements and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy clearly showed the formation of silicone‐rich surfaces even with very small amounts of additives, such as 0.1% by weight.