Dynamic rheological and morphological study of the compatibility of thermoplastic folyurethane/ethylene-octene copolymer blends

Two grafted ethylene-octene copolymers [POEs; i.e., POE-g-maleic anhydried (MAH) and aminated POE (denoted by POE-g-NH2) were used as compatibilizers in immiscible blends of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and POE. The effects of the compatibilizers on the dynamic rheological properties and morphologies of the TPU/POE blends were investigated. The characteristic rheological behaviors of the blends indicated that the strong interactions between the two phases were due to the compatibilization. Microstructural observation confirmed that the compatibilizers were located at the interface in the blends and formed a stable interfacial layer and smaller dispersed phase particle size. Compared with POE-g-MAH, POE-g-NH2 exhibited a better compatibilization. effect in the TPU/POE blends. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.