Structure and properties of polyethylene–polypropylene blend

The structure and mechanical properties of blends of low‐density polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene were studied. The blends behaved like a simple composite obeying the rule of mixture for the modulus dependence on composition. Tensile strength of the LDPE was enhanced with the addition of PP but elongation at break was drastically reduced for all blend compositions. Studies with WAXD, hot‐stage microscope, and DSC indicated lack of interaction between the LDPE and the PP. The crystallographic structure of LDPE and PP remained unchanged. However, the spherulite size of the PP was found to be reduced in the presence of LDPE, possibly due to an increase in nucleation density.