Abstract: Polypropylene was grafted with maleic anhydride (MA) and (TIAC) was prepared in a twin-screw extruder and used as a compatibilizer for PP/EVOH blends. The compatibility, rheological properties, crystal properties, mechanical properties, and barrier properties of the blends were studied. The grafting degree was increased by 13% through the grafting of TIAC. Infrared spectra analysis indicated that the compatibility was improved by the esterification between compatilizers and EVOH. Scanning electron microscopy observation revealed the smaller size of the dispersed phase. Rheological experiments indicated that the TIAC grafting suppressed the degradation of PP. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that the crystallization temperatures of PP and EVOH in the compatibilized blend were higher than those in the uncompatibilized blends. The incorporation of TIAC had little effect on the mechanical properties, however, showed major effect on the barrier property. When the loading of TIAC was 0.4 phr, the barries property was increased by 28%.

Key words: polypropylene, poly (ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), polypropylene-graft-maleic, triallyl isocyanurate, morphology