Synthesis and properties of SMA‐g‐PA6 and PPO blends via in situ active anionic polymerization of ε‐caprolactam, comparing with MCPA6/PPO blends

Abstract In this work, blends of monomer casting polyamide 6 (MCPA6) and poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) were prepared by in situ polymerization via the application of ε‐caprolactam as a reactive solvent. Styrene‐maleic anhydride (SMA) was used as both compatibilizer and macromolecular activator. With the in situ formed graft copolymers of SMA‐g‐PA6, the dispersion of PPO was much smaller, and better mechanical properties and higher heat distortion temperature were obtained. The morphologies of the blends were characterized by scanning electron microscope, and the crystallization behaviors of these blends were also studied by differential scanning calorimeter, wide angle X‐ray diffraction, and polarize optical micrograph. The results showed that the main differences in crystallization behaviors and crystallographic form of PA6 between the two series blends (MCPA6/PPO and SMA‐g‐PA6/PPO) lie in the number and size of dispersed PA6 within the PPO rich region. Besides, the rheological properties of two series blends were also studied. SMA‐g‐PA6/PPO blends present higher viscosity and more elastic behavior than MCPA6/PPO blends. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008