Properties of films from polypropylene and thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blends

Abstract In this paper the effect of the inclusion of two different thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers, namely Rodrun 3000 and Vectra A950, in a PP matrix is analyzed with particular attention to the gas transport and mechanical properties of the extruded blend films. The experiments, conducted on PP/Rodrun 3000 and PP/Vectra A950 films, have shown that the presence of TLCPs, also at low percentages, modify the properties of the thermoplastic matrix in a manner depending on the degree of compability and interfacial adhesion between the two components of the blends. Moreover, the effect of a maleic anhydride grafted PP (MAP), used as compatibilizing agent, on the properties and morphology of the PP/Rodrun 3000 system was examined. It was found that the addition of the MAP determines an increase in the barrier properties and in toughness of the films compared to those without MAP.