Mechanical properties and thermal analysis of low-density polyethylene + polypropylene blends with dialkyl peroxide

Polypropylene + low density polyethylene (PP + LDPE) blends involving 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100wt% of PP with dialkyl peroxide (DAP) were prepared by melt blending in a single-screw extruder. The effects of adding dialkyl peroxide on mechanical and thermal properties of PP + LDPE blends have been studied. It was found that at lower concentrations of peroxide (e.g., 0-0.08wt% of dialkyl peroxide) LDPE component is cross-linked and Polypropylene (PP) is degraded in all compositions of PP + LDPE blends. Mechanical properties (Tensile strength at break, at yield and elongation at break),Melt flow index (MFI), hardness, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and thermal analyses (DSC) of these blends were examined. Because of serious degradation or cross-linking the mechanical properties and the crystallinty (%) of those products were decreased as a result of increasing peroxide content. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.