Modification of propylene-α-olefin copolymers by maleic anhydride grafting and blending

Five commercial random propylene-α-olefin copolymers were functionalized with maleic anhydride by reactive mixing. Materials and blends of the original polymers with the grafted ones were characterized by IR, SEC, rheology, XRD, and DSC. The effects of ethylene content and average molecular weights on the effectiveness of scission and grafting reactions were investigated. Functionalization gives place to thermo-rheologically simple materials whose dynamic properties are in agreement with the measured molecular weights. The blends, which stand as miscible ones, display terminal dynamic moduli and crystallization and melting temperatures that show slight positive deviation with respect to linear mixing rules.