Reactive polymers for blend compatibilization

Blending of immiscible polymers offers attractive opportunities for developing new materials with useful combinations of properties. However, simple blends often have poor mechanical properties and unstable morphologies. Compatibilization of such blends is necessary. Preformed graft or block copolymers have been traditionally added to act as compatibilizers. Another route, however, is to generate these copolymer compatibilizers in situ during melt blending using functionalized polymers. In this review, a variety of reactive polymers that have been utilized in the reactive compatibilization of polymer blends is examined. They are classified into six major categories according to the types of reactive groups they have, namely, maleic anhydride, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid derivatives, primary and secondary amines, hydroxyl and epoxide, and reactive groups capable of ionic bonding. Their preparation methods and applications and the chemical reactions they undergo during melt blending are presented.