Polymer blends of PA6 and PPE compatibilized by a multifunctional epoxy coupler

Abstract

A tetrafunctional epoxy monomer, N,N,N'-N'-tetraglycidyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane (TGDDM), has demonstrated to be a highly efficient reactive compatibilizer in compatibilizing the immiscible and incompatible polymer blends of polyamide-6 (PA6) and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (PPE). This epoxy coupling agent can react with both PA6 and PPE to form the TGDDM-PA6-PPE mixed copolymer. The in situ-formed TGDDM-PA6-PPE mixed copolymer tends to anchor along the interface to reduce the interfacial tension and results in finer phase domains. The mechanical property improvement of the compatibilized blend over the uncompatibilized counterpart is drastic by the addition of very small amount, a few fraction of one percent, of the epoxy coupling agent.