Polypropylene blends with a phenoxy

Polypropylene (PP) blends with a phenoxy have been prepared in various compositions using a Brabender Plasticorder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed a clean two-phase morphology. The domains were larger when PP formed the dispersed phase, probably due to the greater melt viscosity of PP. The melting peak temperature (Tm) of PP decreased marginally, whereas the glass transition temperature (Tg) of phenoxy increased by 5-10°C, in the blends. X-ray diffraction measurements indicated that PP crystallizes in a hexagonal β-form in 50/50 and 30/70 (PP/phenoxy) blends. Mechanical properties of the blends generally showed negative deviation from the additivity rule, perhaps due to the inherently immiscible nature of the blends.