Blends of Isotactic Polypropylene with LCP

The calorimetric characteristics of iPP phase of the uncompatibilized blends show that the presence of the SBH dispersed phase leads to a slight increase of the PP temperature of crystallization (Fig. 17.8) (37,38). This result can be interpreted by a slightly increased nucleation rate of PP phase in the presence of SBH dispersed particles. As seen in Fig. 17.8, iPP temperature of crystallization increases drastically in the presence of COPP70 and COPP50. The analysis of the X-ray patterns (38) (Fig. 17.9a and b) and calculated parameters (dm values, degree of crystallinity, crystallite size, and intensity ratio) allows the assumption that PP segments of 

PP-g-SBH copolymers cocrystallize completely with bulk iPP, which increases PP crystaUinity degree part of the SBH component (SBH grafts of PP-g-SBH copolymers and bulk SBH) enters the mutual amorphous phase of the blends, leading to a decrease of the intensity of the SBH peak. That means each part of the compatibilizer is miscible with the corresponding bulk phase of the blend. The compatibilized iPP/LCP blends display improved crystallization kinetics, enhanced degree of crystallinity, and improved interphase adhesion (37,38). Consequently, an improvement of the mechanical characteristics should be expected for these blends. In fact, the investigation of the Vickers microhardness of uncompatibilized and 

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