Preparation, crystallization behavior, and melting characteristics of β-nucleated isotactic polypropylene blends with polyamide 6

β-Nucleated isotactic polypropylene (iPP) blends with polyamide 6 (PA6) were prepared with a novel and highly efficient nano-CaCO 3-supported β-nuele-ating agent. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA), glycidyl methacrylate grafted polypropylene (PP-g-GMA), maleic anhydride grafted poly(ethylene octene) (POE-g-MA), and maleic anhydride grafted poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) (EVA-g-MA) elastomers were added to the blends as compatibilizers. The nonisothermal crystallization behavior and melting characteristics of β-nucleated iPP and its blends were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the β-iPP content in the β-nucleated iPP blends depended not only on the preparation conditions but also on the compatibilizer type. A high β-iPP content (>95%) in the β-nucleated iPP/PA6 blends was obtained. The addition of PP-g-MA, POE-g-MA, and EVA-g-MA to the β-nucleated iPP/PA6 blends increased the content of β-iPP but decreased the crystallization temperature of iPP in the β-nucleated iPP/PA6 blends. However, the addition of PP-g-GMA decreased the content of β-iPP in the β-nucleated iPP/PA6 blends. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.