The study of compatibility of polyethylene and polypropylene by using irradiated polyethylene wax

Abstract The modification of the compatibility between polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) by using irradiated PE wax (PE wax) is the purpose of this study. In this part, polymer blends based on various ratios of PE and PP were blended with 2.5% PE wax in all the blend ratios to determine the optimum ratio of the blend to be compatabilized. The influence of PE wax as a compatibilizing agent for PE and PP blend was investigated through the measurements of thermal, mechanical and morphological properties. The PP/PE blends modified by this method showed higher mechanical properties than those of the unmodified blends. Also, stress and strain of the modified blend having ratio (60/40) PP/PE blend recorded the maximum mechanical behavior. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of modified blends showed an indication of strong interfacial adhesion and a smooth continuous surface in which giving a support to the effect of irradiated PE wax as a tool for improving the compatibility. Keywords: polyethylene waxirradiationcompatibility