Polyamide/polypropylene (PA1010/PP) blends were prepared by melt mixing using maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene-octene copolymer (POE-g-PMAH) as a reactive compatibilizer.The compatibilizing effects of POE-g-PMAH on PA1010/PP blends were investigated by means of scaning electron microscopy (SEM)

mechanical testing

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scaning calorimetry (DSC)

respectively. It was found that the addition of POE-g-PMAH could decrease the size of the dispersed PP particles

when the mass ratio of PA1010/PP/POE-g-PMAH = 70/30/15

the domains showed a fine and uniform dispersion in the matrix. FTIR results showed that the anhydride carbonyl groups of POE-g-PMAH reacted with the end groups of PA1010 in the blending process. DSC results showed that addition of POE-g-PMAH decreased the crystallization temperature and crystallinity of PA1010 and PP in the blends

indicating that POE-g-PMAH had an inhibition effect on the crystallization of PA1010 and PP. Mechanical testing indicated that with increasing the POE-g-PMAH content

the Izod impact strength of dried samples increased gradually

when the content of POE-g-PMAH was 15%

the Izod impact strength of dried samples was 21.13 kJ/m2

which is 3.1 times that for the binary PA1010/PP blend. Meanwhile

the flexural strength

tensile strength and modulus can be maintained at a relatively high level.The compatibilization mechanism of POE-g-PMAH lied in the chemical interactions occuring between the terminal amino groups of PA1010 and anhydride of MAH in POE-g-PMAH during the melt mixing

and the compatibility between PP and ethyleneoctene of POE in POE-g-PMAH. Hense the addition of POE-g-PMAH decreased the interfacial tension and the domain size dramatically

improved the mechanical properties greatly.