Effect of the Addition of EPM Copolymers on the

Properties of High Density Polyethylene/lsotactic

Polypropylene Blends: II. Morphology and Mechanical
Properties of Extruded Samples
L. DORAZIO, R. GRECO, E . MARTUSCELLI,* and G. RAGOSTA

Istituto di Ricerche su Tecnologia dei Polimeri e Reologia

C . N . R . Via Toiano 6
80072 Arco Felice, Naples, Italy
The influence of the addition of two ethylene-propylene
random copolymers (EPM) with different composition on the
mechanical properties, thermal behavior and overall morphology of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/isotacticpolypropylene (iPP) blends, was investigated on extruded samples. The
experimental data showed that the morphology of binary
HDPEliPP blends is drastically modified by these additives
and that the ultimate mechanical properties of these mixtures
are greatly improved. A reasonable explanation of these results
can be ascribed to the fact that these copolymers can act as
compatibilizing agents in the amorphous regions of the two
semicrystalline homopolymers. The extent of such effects is
dependent on the chemical structure and/or on the molecular
mass of the added copolymer as well as on the HDPENPP
blend compositions.

INTRODUCTION
echanical tensile properties of binary density polyM
ethylene (HDPE) and isotactic polypropylene
(iPP) blends have been studied by several authors (1-3).
In all the cases the elastic moduli were about lGPa for
the homopolymers and for the blends as well.
The yield strength and the relative elongation varied
somewhat depending on the molecular characteristics of
the used polymers as well as on the processing employed in making the samples. The ultimate strength
differed also from case to case whereas the elongation at
break in all experiments so far reported shows a similar
qualitative trend (very high values for the pure homopolymers and very poor values for the blends whose rupture occurred during the propagation of the neck along
the samples). In a successive study (4) done in our Institute, it waq found that the mechanical performance of
these blends could be improved by changing operational variables such as temperature and cross-head
speed. In this way, it was possible to obtain even
ultradrawn fibers with sufficiently high modulus and
strength (5).
The tensile mechanical performance of iPP/HDPE
blends may be improved also by a suitable third component (6, 7) (mainly an ethylene-propylene random copolymer EPM), Such an additive, having intermediate
~~

* To whom all correspondence should be addressed.

POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, JUNE, 1983, Yo/. 23, No. 9

molecular characteristics between the two homopolymers, can act as a compatibilizer as suggested by the
results of previous work where the effect of the addition
of two of these copolymers having different ethylene
percentage, on the impact properties and on the overall
morphology of molded samples have been analyzed (8).
The morphology of the system as well as the fracture
mechanisms are highly influenced by the addition of copolymers. The impact properties were strongly improved and the extent was dependent both on the
HDPE/iPP ratio and on the ethylene content of the
added copolymer. The role of EPM copoIymers as
compatibilizing agents for polyolefin blends has also
been evidenced by Paul, et a2. (1, 6). They have shown
that when an amorphous ethylene-propylene random
copolymer was added to such blends an improvement in
their toughness or ductility was observed. Furthermore, copolymers with residual ethylene crystallinity
were found to be more effective in compatibilizing than
those with less crystallinity.
In the present work the mechanical tensile properties
at room temperature of unoriented extruded samples of
binary HDPE/iPP and ternary HDPE/iPP/EPM blends
have been studied and a morphological analysis of thin
sections has also been performed. The aim is to elucidate the effect of EPM copolymers on the morphology
and on the mechanical and ultimate properties of the
blend extrudates.
489

L. D'Orazio, R . Greco, E . Murtuscelli, and G. Ragosta

EXPERIMENTAL
Materials
The same polymers used in the previous work (8)
were adopted here. They are listed in Table I, where
the code, the molecular parameters, the melt flow index, the ethylene content, the glass transition, and
finally the source are reported.
The high density polyethylene (HDPE) and the isotactic polypropylene (iPP) were kindly supplied by
RAPRA (Rubber and Plastics Research Association of
Great Britain). The copolymers Dutral and Epcar are
two commercial polymers produced respectively by
Montedison and Goodrich. They were purified before
use.
Blend and Specimen Preparation
The polymers were premixed in a Brabender-like apparatus (Rheocord EC of Haake, Inc.) at a temperature
of 200C and at two difierent residence times (6 minutes
at 2 rpm and further 10 minutes at 32 rpm), to obtain
blends whose compositions are reported in Table 2 .

After the premixing, the material was extruded by

using a melt-elastic miniextruder (CSI Max mixingextruder Model CS-194 manufactured y Instron
Scientific Instruments, Inc.), described in detail elsewhere (9). In this apparatus the melted material is conveyed to a mixing zone where it is sheared between a
stationary and a rotating surface, both maintained at
200C and finally extruded out of the die. The obtained
continuous filament cut in suitable length provides cylindrical specimens on which different tests were
performed.
Techniques

A Perkin Elmer DSC-2 differential scanning calorimeter was used to determine the melting points (T,) and
the crystallinity (Xr) of HDPE and iPP in all the binary
and ternary blends. Stress-strain curves in tensile mode
at room temperature were obtained by means of an
Instron machine (Model 1122) at a constant cross-head
speed of 10 per minute. Since the samples were directly

Table 1. Characteristics of Polymers Used

~~

M,

Code
~~~

HDPE
iPP
Dutral
Epcar

1.1
3.1
1.8
1.4

_
_
MJM"

MFI
g/10 min.

C, percent
in moles

3.7
3.9

TA'C) Source

~~

x 105
x 105
x 105
x 105

10
20

3.4

60
74

-90
-10
- 60
-47

-140
0

RAPRA
RAPRA
Montedison
Goodrich

Table 2. Blend Composition

~

~~~

Blend code
HDPE1iPPlcoppolymer
100/0/0
951015
90/0/10
8510115
8010120
7510125
70l0130
7512510
71,25123,7515
67.5122.5110
63.75121.25/25/15
60120120
56.2511 8.75125
52.5117.5130
5015010
47.5147.515
4514511 0
42,5142,5115
40140120
37.5137.5125

35/35/30
2517510
23.75171.2515
22.5167.5110
21.25163.75115
20160120
18.75156.25125
17.5152.5130
0110010
019515
0/90/10
0185115
oiaot20
0175125
0170l30
490

HDPE
percent
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
75
71.25
67.5
63.75
60
56.25
52.5
50
47.5
45
42.5
40
37.5
35
25
23.75
22.5
21.25
20
18.75
17.5

iPP
percent

Copolymer
percent

5
10
15
20
25
30

25
23.75
22.5
21.25
20
18.75
17.5
50
47.5
45
42.5
40
37.5
35
75
71.25
67.5
63.75
60
56.25
52.5
100
95
90
a5
80
75
70

5
10
15
20
25
30
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0
5
10
15
20
25
30

5
10
15
20
25
30

YPE =

WHDP,

WI,,,, + W , P P
1

0.75

0.50

0.25

POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, JUNE, 1983, Vol. 23, No. 9

Effect of the Addition of E P M Copolymers on the Properties of H i g h Density Polyethylenellsotactic Polypropylene Blends

obtained by extrusion they were not dumb-bell shaped.

Therefore to avoid slippage in the clamps, adhesive tape
was wound around the ends of the cylindrical specimens
before clamping. Youngs modulus, yield values and ultimate elongation and strength were obtained directly
from stress-strain curves. It is to be underlined that in
the case of HDPE/iPP mixtures the rupture of the
samples always occurs during the neck propagation process. For ternary blends it was possible to detect the
strength, after cutting and rewinding the formed fibers
during a second step of drawing. For such blends it was
not possible to obtain the elongation at break since the
specimens were not dumb-bell shaped and therefore
the neck propagated along their length (even into the
clamps).
The overall morphology of the blends was investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Thin
sections of the extruded samples were cut parallel and
perpendicular to the filament axis by using a LKB
ultramicrotome at liquid air temperature. Optical micrographs were taken by means of a Leitz polarizing microscope equipped with a hot stage. Scanning electron
microscopy on surfaces of samples fractured in liquid nitrogen was carried out by means of a Philips 501 apparatus.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Rheological Measurements
The torque (M) measuring the friction of the material
in the mixing chamber (at 200C and at 32 rpm) was recorded at steady state. The values of M for the homopolymers and blends are shown as a function of the copolymer content in Figs. 1a and 1 b. As can be seen the
torque values of iPP, HDPE, and binary HDPE/iPP
mixtures are much lower than those of the pure copolymers. For binary and ternary blends, containing Dutral
(Fig. l a ) or Epcar (Fig. 1 b), the M values increase almost
linearly with enhancing copolymer content. Since the
roller geometry is very complex and the materials have

1.4

1.2

1.0

0.8C

o.sa

0.40

Fig. 1 . Torque oalues, M , as a function of copolymer concentration for all the examined blends: a ) Dutral containing blends; b)
Epcar containingblends: OYpE= 0.0; OYPE= 0.25; AYpE= 0.50;

UY,,

= 0.75 UYp

= 1.0.

POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, JUNE, 1983, Vol. 23, No. 9

unknown rheological constitutive equations, no direct

correlation can be found between the torque M and the
viscosity of the system. Therefore this parameter can
give a qualitative indication of the rheological behavior
of the melted blends at the mixing conditions (200%and
32 rpm). It seems difficult to conclude whether or not
the linear behavior (observed in Fig. 1)means mixibility
of the components in the molten state. The fact that all
the blends, above their melting temperature, appear to
be transparent could be an indication of compatibility
even though such a criterion is a necessary but not a
sufficient condition for segmental compatibility of the
components. In fact transparency can also be observed
in incompatible blends when the components have
equal refractive indices or when the dimensions of the
dispersed phase particles are smaller than the light
wavelength.
Thermal Analysis
The thermal analysis on the extruded samples has
shown that the observed melting point (T,) and the fractional crystallinity (X,) of both HDPE and iPP in all the
binary and ternary blends do not vary appreciably
within a limit of experimental error, with increasing the
Dutral or Epcar copolymer content. Only for HDPE
does the crystallinity seem to increase slightly with
Epcar content. This effect can be ascribed to the fact that
the Epcar copolymer has a high C d C , ratio and hence
its longest ethylene sequences probably crystallize so
that it might contribute to some extent to the overall
crystallinity.
Tensile Mechanical Properties
Typical stress-strain curves for binary iPP/Dutral and
iPP/Epcar blends are reported respectively in Figs. 2a
and 2b. In both cases a decrease in the modulus and
yield stress with enhancement of the copolymer content
is observed. The yielding peak tends to disappear more
rapidly for iPP/Epcar alloys than for iPP/Dutral ones.
Similar behavior is shown by the HDPE/copolymer
blends and by all the other HDPE/iPP mixtures after addition of one of the two copolymers as third component.
The modulus values for all the blends examined are
plotted against the copolymer concentration in Figs. 3
and 4 , whereas the corresponding tensile yield stress
values are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 .
As shown by Figs. 3 and 4 , the modulus of all Dutral
containing blends decreases with a gradual and almost
linear trend. The Epcar containing alloys exhibit an initial drastic drop in the values of the modulus. At higher
Epcar concentration a decrease in the slope of the
curves is observed. The minimum shown by iPP/Epcar
blend is not easily interpreted.
The observed lowering of the modulus as to be expected is followed by decrease in the correspondingtensile yield stress value (oy).In fact, as shown in Figs. 5
and 6, both Dutral and Epcar containing blends exhibit
an almost linear decrease of ay with increasing copolymer concentration. In Figs. 7 and 8 the ratio between
the modulus E and the overall crystallinity Xt, is reported as a function of the copolymer concentration for
491

L. DOrazio, R . Greco, E . iMartuscelli, and G . Ragosta

1.0

0.80
E 40

ZO

40

60

0.6 0

0.40

Fig. 2 . Stress-strain curves: a ) iPPIDutra1 blends; b ) iPPIEpcar

blends. Copolymer percentages as indicated.
Fig. 4 . Youngs modulus, E , us. copolymer percentage f o r Epcar
containing blends: OYpE= 0.0;myPE= 0.25; AYpE= 0.50;myPE
= 0.75 O Y p E = 1.0.

0.20 I

10

20

30

%DUTRAL

Fig.3. Youngs modulus, E , us copolymer percentage f o r Dutral

containing blends: O Y P , = 0.0;eYpE = 0.25; ~ Y P=E0.50; mypE
= 0.75 OYpE = 1.0.
a92

Dutral and Epcar containing blends respectively. The

trend is very similar to that shown by the modulus in
Figs. 3 and 4 . This observation indicates that E and Xi
are not directly proportional as in the case of binary
HDPE/iPP blends where a complete segregation of the
two components was observed (2).
The tensile strength (ar)
of binary and ternary blends
containing Dutral and Epcar are reported in Figs. 9 and
10 respectively as function of the quantity YPE defined
as YPE = WmpJ W H D P E + Wipp where WmPE and W i P P
are the weights of HDPE and iPP respectively in the
blends.
The binary HDPENPP blends show a strong decrease
in u r with a minimum at about YpE = 0.75. The addition
of Dutral to pure HDPE (Fig. 9), produce a decrease in
at-whereas for iPP/Dutral mixtures c r values are about
equal to the pure iPP. For ternary blends containing
Dutral an improvement in ur is generally observed with
respect to the corresponding binary HDPE/iPP blends.
The extent of such an effect is dependent on the Y p E
values as well as on the copolymer content. In fact, it is
possible to see that blend with YpE = 0.25 and with 5
percent of Dutral having a ur value that is close to that of
pure iPP but higher tha that for pure HDPE. In blends
with Y P E = 0.50 the improvement followingthe addition
of rubber is also remarkable but does not depend monoPOLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, JUNE, 1983, Vol. 23, No. 9

Effect of the Addition of EPiM Copoly,merson the Properties of High Density PolyethyZenellsotacticPolypropylene Blends

3.0
400

3oa
2.0

20a

1.o

100

10

15

20

96DUTRAL

Fig. 5. Tensile yield stress, u y , us. copolymer percentage f o r

Dutral containing blends: OYpE= 0.0; OYpE= 0.25; AYpE =
0.50; mypE = 0.75 u y p 6 = 1.0.

20

30

10

Yo D U T R A L
Fig. 7. Values of the ratio between modulus and overall cystallinity, EIX:, as a function of copolymer concentration f o r Du. PE = 0.25; AYpE = 0.50;
tral containing blends: o Y p E= 0.0; Y
BYpE = 0.75 UYpE = 1 .O.

3.0

4oa

300

2 .o
200

1.0

100

10

15

20

% EPCAR

Fig. 6. Tensile yield stress, a y , us. copolymer percentage f o r

Epcarcontaining blends: OYpE= 0.0; OYPE= 0.25; AYPE= 0.50;
NPE
= 0.75 UYPE= 1 .O.
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, JUNE, 1983, Vol. 23, No. 9

10

20

30

% EPCAR

Fig. 8. Values of the ratio between modulus and ouerall cystallinity, EIX:, as a function of copolymer concentration f o r Epcar
containing blends: OYPE = 0.0; OYpE= 0.25; AYpE= 0.50;W p E
= 0.75 UYpE = 1.0.
493

L. DOrazio, R. Greco, E . Martuscelli, and G . Ragostu

tonically on the Dutral content. The lowest ur values
are found for blends having YPE = 0.75. From an examination of the trend of the curves of Fig. 10, it clearly
emerges that it is possible to formulate ternary- blends
with ur values that are comparable to those of pure
semicrystalline iPP and HDPE homopolymers. However, it is to be remarked that for binary HDPE/iPP
blends the rupture of the specimens occurs during the
cold drawing through an instability of the flow, probably due to the interaction that occurs between the crystallites of the two polymers and their connecting tie molecules. On the contrary, for homopolymers and blends
containing the copolymers tensile strength values are
relative to the fiber rupture. This last observation may
be related to the fact that the copolymer is able to reduce
the flow instability making the cold-drawing process
easier and more continuous.
The different behavior observed by Dutral and Epcar
blends, as far as concern the mechanical properties, is
probably related to the different C2/C3 ratio and/or to
the different molecular mass of such copolymers.

400

300

200

Morphological Analysis of Extruded Samples

a25

as0

a75

YPE

Fig. 9. Tensile strength, o r , as a function of YPEf o r Dutral containing blends (copolymer percentage as indicated): OYpE =
0.0;OYpfi:= 0.25; a Y p ~= 0.50; WYpfi; = 0.75 OYpfi; 1.0.

0.25

0.50

0.7 5

HDPE/Copolymers Binary Blends

Optical micrographs of cross sections of pure HDPE
extrudates exhibit microspherulitic structure with
microspherulites aligned along telescopic decentralized
patterns (see Fig. Ila).

11)
yPE

Fig. 10. Tensile strength, ur, as a function of Y p Ef o r Epcar containing blends (copolymer percentages as indicated): OYM =
0.0; OY,, = 0.25; AYPF = 0.50; BYpli = 0.75 OYpE = 1 .O.
494

POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, JUNE, 1983, Yo/. 23, No. 9

Effect of the A d d i t i o n of EPiM Copoly,mers o n the Properties of High Density Polyethylenellsotactic Polypropylene Blends

Such overall morphological features may be due to

the rapid air quenchng of the molten material at the die
exit. In fact the circular flow lines existing in the
screwless extruder causes an orientation of the material
in the melt. Such orientations are frozen by the sudden
cooling and crystallization.
Optical micrographs of cross sections of binary
HDPE/copolymers blends show an attenuation of the
circular orientation (Fig. Ilb).
iPP/Copolymers Binary Blends
Optical micrographs of thin cross sections of pure iPP
and iPP copolymer blends are shown in Fig. 12. The addition of both copolymers generally causes a reduction
of the average dimensions of iPP spherulites (compare
Fig. 12a with Fig. 1%).
The extent of this phenomenon increases as the copolymer content is enhanced and is larger for Epcar containing blends. The above observation suggests that the
EPM copolymers may act as nucleating agents for the
iPP spherulites in agreement with the results obtained
by Karger and other (10)and by Martuscelli and others
(11) on thin films crystallized isothermally from the
melt.
Binary HDPEliPP and Ternary HDPENPP
Copolymers Blends
Optical analysis of the extruded HDPEAPP (25/75)
filaments shows that a microspherulitic structure is exhibited by the semicrystalline polymers (Fig. 13a). This

Fig. 1.2. Optical micrographs (crossed polars) extrudate cross

sections of pure i P P and iPPlcopolymer blends: a ) i P P (magnified 350x), b ) iPPIEpcar (70130) blend.
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, IUNE, 1983, Vol. 23, No. 9

Fig. 13. Optical micrographs extrudate cross sections of binary

HDPENPP (25175) and ternary HDPEliPPlcopolymer blends: a)
HDPENPP (25ff5) blend (crossed polars) (magnified 350 x); b )
HDPENPP (25175) blend (crossed polars) (magnified 80x); c)
HDPEliPP (2517.5) blend (phase contrast) (magnified 800 x); d )
HDPEliPPIEpcar (23.75171.25l5)blend (crossed polars) (magnified 80 x).

observation suggests that HDPE may also act as a nucleating agent for the iPP spherulites.
It is to be noted that for such a blend the domains of
the two components stratify along telescopic rings. (Fig.
13b and 13c). Furthermore, in the decentralized center
of the filaments, a zone of almost circular shape with different morphology is observed. This region contains
mainly HDPE. In fact at temperatures higher than the
Tmof HDPE but lower than the T, ofiPP material in this
zone melts giving rise to the disappearance of birefringence phenomena. Such HDPE segregation can be due
to the fact that the HDPEAPP (25/75) blend undergoes a
particular (melt-elastic) extrusion process. It is likely
that after the shearing zone of the extruder, the dispersed particles of the minor component tend to become spherical under the action of the interfacial forces
(12, 13). In passing through the die they are elongated
along the extrusion direction and forced to coalesce.
This process produces in the extruded filament the observed continuous core. An analogous phenomenon was
found by Martuscelli and others (14) in the case of 25/75
HDPE/aPS blends processed by the same extruder.
The addition of a small amount (5percent) of both copolymers to binary HDPEAPP (25/75) blend causes a
very drastic change in the overall morphology of the
filaments. As shown in Fig. 13d both orientation and
segregation effects disappear. An homogeneous distribution of the spherulites and domains of iPP and HDPE
is, as matter of fact, observed throughout the cross section of the filaments.
Typical scanning electron micrographs of fracture surfaces of extruded filaments of HDPE/iPP (25/75) and
HDPE/iPP/copolymers broken in liquid N Zare reported
in Fig. 14. As shown in Fig. 14a the spherulites of the
minor component (HDPE) segregate in cylindrically
shaped domains having an average diameter of 2-3 pm
oriented along the extrusion direction and uniformly
distributed throughout the whole specimen. The addition of copolymer (Dutral or Epcar) to HDPEAPP
(25/75)binary blends strongly modifies the overall morphology as shown in Fig. 14b. Domains of irregular cy495

L. DOrazio, R. Greco, E . Martuscelli, and G. Ragosta

Fig. 15. Optical micrographs (crossed pokirs) ertrudute cross

and longitudinal sectrons oIbinury HDPEfiPP (75125) blend: u)
HDPEliPP (75125) (rnognified 3.50 x l ; b ) IIDPEIiPP (7.5125)
Irnagnijed 350 x ) .

Fig. 14. S E M micrographs of cryogenically fractured surjaces

of bina y HDPEliPP (25/75)and ternary HDPEliPPlcopolymer
extruded blends: a) HDPEHPP (25175) (magnijiedlO,000x); b)
HDPEliPPIDutral (23.75/71.25/5)(magnijed 10,000 x).

lindrical shape with an average lower diameter (about

0.5 to 1.0 pm) are observed. In such ternary blends the
dispersed domains seem to show more adhesion to the
iPP matrix. These observations indicate that the copolymers probably act as interfacial agents reducing the
average dimensions of the domains of the dispersed
phase and favoring the adhesion between the two semicrystalline phases.
Optical analysis of the extruded HDPE/iPP (50/50)
and HDPE/iPP (75/25) filaments shows that the structure of the two components is microspherulitic (Fig.
152).Contrary to the case of HDPE/iPP (25/75)blend no
circular orientation in the cross sections and no segregation effects are observed. The longitudinal sections of
such mixtures show the presence of microspherulites
aligned along the filament axis (Fig.15b). SEM micrographs of cryogenically fractured surfaces of HDPE/iPP
(75/25jbinary blends is quite similar to that observed for
HDPE/iPP mixtures with iPP matrix. Almost regular
cylindrical domains containing the spherulites of the minor component (iPP)with an average diameter of 2-3 p m
uniformly distributed throughout the whole specimen
are observed (Fig. 16u). A very drastic change in the
overall morphology of HDPE/iPP (75/25) filaments
caused by adding a certain amount (10 percent) of both
copolymers, is produced. As shown in Fig. 16b the do496

Fig. 16. S E M micrographs of cryogenically fructured surfaces

of binary HDPEAPP (75125) and ternary HDPEliPPlcopolymer
extruded blends: a ) HDPEHPP (7512.5) (magnified 10,000 x i ;
HDPEliPPIEpcar (67.5122.5110)(magnqed 10,000x).

mains of the dispersed phase are no longer clearly visible. The above observations suggest once more that
EPM copolymers may act as compatibilizer, and/or
interfacial agents for HDPE and iPP.
It is likely that a certain amount of EPM molecules are
dispersed in the amorphous phases of HDPE and iPP
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, JUNE, 1983, Vol. 23, No. 9

Effect of the Addition of EPiM Copolymerson the Properties of High Density Polyethylenellsotactic Polypropylene Blends

giving rise to a more interconnected system. These observationsare in agreement with the large improvement
observed on the ultimate mechanical properties of such
blends as well on their impact behavior (8).

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research is supported by a grant from the
Progetto Finalizzato Chimica Fine e Secondaria of the
National Research Council (C.N.R.).

CONCLUSIONS
The results presented show that the addition of rubber ethylene-propylene copolymers (Dutral or Epcar)
have a great influence on the morphology of binary
HDPE/iPP blends and consequently on their mechanical tensile properties. Particularly since the chemical
structure of these copolymers is of intermediate nature
between HDPE and iPP, they can act as compatibilizing agents between the amorphous regions of the two
semicrystalline homopolymers. As a matter offact a better homogenization is achieved with respect to the binary HPE/iPP blends. This effect gives to the internal
superstructure of the HDPE/iPP alloys the possibility of
releasing a high stress concentration that can arise in the
material where some discontinuity is present. This
means that the copolymer might improve substantially
the flow capability of HDPEAPP blends so that the
cold-drawing process becomes easier and more continuous than for pure HDPE and iPP homopolymers.
The extent and the influence of this beneficial effect
on the final morphology and on the ultimate properties
of HDPE/iPP blends, seems to be strictly related as
shown by the experimental data, to the chemical structure and molecular characteristics of structure as well as
to the HDPE/iPP blend composition.

1. R. E. Robertson and D. R. Paul, J. AppZ. Polym. Sci., 17,

2579 (1973).
2. R. Greco, G. Mucciariello, G. Ragosta, and E. Martuscelli,J.
Muter. Sci., 15, 845 (1980).
3. R. D. Deanin and M. F. Sansone, Polym. Symposia, 19,211
( 1978).
4. R. Greco, G. Mucciariello, G. Ragosta, and E. Martuscelli,].
Muter. Sci., 16, 1001(1981).
5. Ma Rong Tang, G. Greco, G. Ragosta, and S. Cimmino, J .
Muter. Sci., to be published.
6. E. Nolley, J. W. Barlow, and D. R. Pau1,PoZym. Eng. Sci., 20,
364 (1990).
7. R. Paul and S. Newman in Polymer Blends, Academic
Press, New York (1978).
,
8. L. DOrazio, R. Greco, C. Mancarella, E. Martuscelli, and
G. Ragosta, Polym. Eng. Sci., 22, 536 (1982).
9. R. Greco, G. Ragosta, E. Martuscelli, and C. Silvestre in
E. Martuscelli, R. Palumbo, M. Kryszewski, eds., pp.
281-293, Plenum Press, New York (1980).
10. J. Karger-Kcsis, A. Kallo, A. Szafner, G. Bodor, and Z. Senyel, Polymer, 20,37 (1979).
11. E. Martuscelli, C. Silvestre, and G. C. Abate, Polymer, 23,
229 (1982).
12. B. Maxwell, SPE J., 26, 48 (June, 1970).
13. B. Maxwell and E. J. Dormier, Polym. Eng. Sci., 22, 280
(1982).
14. E. Martuscelli, C. Silvestre, R. Creco, and G. Ragosta in
Polymer Blends: Processing, Morphology and Properties, E. Martuscelli, R. Palumbo, M. Kryszewski eds., pp.
295-318, Plenum Press, New York (1980).

POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, JUNE, 1983, Vol. 23, No. 9

REFERENCES

497