Rheological Property Modification of a Molten-State Polyamide through the Addition of an α -Olefin-Maleic Anhydride Copolymer.

The rheological properties of a polyamide (PA) resin with low crystallinity were modified by melt-mixing it with a small amount of an alternative α -olefin-maleic anhydride copolymer as a reactive compound. Because PA has a low melting point, rheological characterization was performed over a wide temperature range. Owing to the reaction between PA and the alternative α -olefin-maleic anhydride copolymer, the blend sample behaved as a long-chain branched polymer in the molten state. The thermo-rheological complexity was obvious owing to large flow activation energy values in the low modulus region, i.e., the rheological time-temperature superposition principle was not applicable. The primary normal stress difference under steady shear was greatly increased in the wide shear rate range, leading to a large swell ratio at the capillary extrusion. Furthermore, strain hardening in the transient elongational viscosity, which is responsible for favorable processability, was clear. Because this is a simple modification method, it will be widely employed to modify the rheological properties of various polyamide resins.