Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.74, No.8, 1941-1949, 1999
Oxygen permeation through films of compatibilized polypropylene/polyamide 6 blends
Polypropylene/polyamide 6 blends were prepared by melt mixing, without or with the addition of a suitable commercial. product, a polypropylene grafted with 1% maleic anhydride, used as an interfacial modifier. The oxygen permeation through their films was studied as a function of temperature and the effect of the presence of the compatibilizer on the barrier properties of the material was examined. In addition, the diffusion coefficients were measured. The relationships between transport parameters and blend morphology were investigated by microscopic observations, together with chemical etchings, and a simple model was applied for interpreting the experimental permeation data. Differential scanning calorimetry was used in the determination of the degree of crystallinity of the blends.