Reactive processing compatibilization of direct injection molded polyamide-6/poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends

Finely dispersed blends of polyamide 6 (PA-6) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were obtained by direct injection molding throughout the full composition range. The blends comprised a probably pure PA-6 phase, and a PET phase that was apparently pure in PET-rich blends and contained slight reacted PA-6 amounts in PA-6-rich blends. This very complex morphology was characterized by the presence of dispersed particles at three levels and by a very large interface area/dispersed phase volume ratio. The linear ductility behavior was attributed to both the presence of reacted copolymers and the large interface area/dispersed volume ratio, and the synergism in both the Young's modulus and yield stress to the increased orientation of the blends related to that of the pure components. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.