Reactive Blending in a Twin Screw Extruder

Abstract We studied the morphology of a reactive blend, constituted by an EVA/EMA phase dispersed in a polypropylene matrix. The dispersed phase was crosslinked in-situ during the extrusion through a transesterification reaction, catalysed by dibutyltin oxide. Rheological studies allowed to define the changes in rheological behaviour during the crosslinking reaction. Using a flow model developed for twin screw extruders, we computed the reaction extent along the screws and the corresponding blend morphology using a very simple approach. Theoretical results underestimate the extent of the reaction, but explain qualitatively the general tendencies when varying operating parameters.