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International audience; In the context of better understanding pollutant formation from internal combustion engines, new experimental speciation data were obtained in a high-pressure jet-stirred reactor for the oxidation of three molecules, which are considered in surrogates of Diesel fuel, n-heptane, ethylbenzene, n-butylbenzene. These experiments were performed at pressures up to 10 bar, at temperatures ranging from 500 to 1100 K and for a residence time of 2 s. Based on results previously obtained close to atmospheric pressure for the same molecules, the pressure effect on fuel conversion and product selectivity was discussed. In addition, for the three fuels, the experimental temperature dependence of species mole fractions were compared with simulations using recent literature models with generally a good agreement. For n-heptane, the obtained experimental data, at 10 bar for stoichiometric mixtures, included the temperature dependence of the mole fractions of the reactants and those of 21 products. Interestingly, the formation of species previously identified as C7 diones was found significantly enhanced at 10 bar compared to lower pressures. The oxidation of ethyl-and n-butylbenzene was investigated at 10 bar for equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1 and 2. The obtained experimental data included the temperature dependence of the mole fractions of the reactants and those of 13 products for the C8 fuels and of 19 products for the C10 one. For ethylbenzene under stoichiometric conditions, the pressure dependence (from 1 to 10 bar) of species mole fraction was also recorded and compared with simulations with more deviations obtained than for temperature dependence. For both aromatic reactants, a flow rate analysis was used to discuss the main pressure influence on product selectivities.

International audience; 3-Carene is an important potential biofuel with properties similar to the jet-propellant JP-10. Its thermal decomposition and combustion behavior is to date unknown, which is essential to assess its quality as a fuel. A combined experimental and kinetic modeling study has been conducted to understand the initial decomposition of 3-carene. The pyrolysis of 3-carene was investigated in a jet-stirred quartz reactor at atmospheric pressure, at temperatures varying from 650 to 1050 K, covering the complete conversion range. The decomposition of 3-carene was observed to start around 800 K, and it is almost complete at 970 K. Online gas chromatography shows that primarily aromatics are generated which suggests that 3-carene is not a good fuel candidate. The potential energy surface for the initial decomposition pathways determined by KinBot shows that a hydrogen elimination reaction dominates, giving primarily cara-2,4-diene. Next to this molecular pathway, radical pathways lead to aromatics via ring opening. The kinetic model was automatically generated with Genesys and consists of 2565 species and 9331 reactions. New quantum chemical calculations at the CBS-QB3 level of theory were needed to calculate rate coefficients and thermodynamic properties relevant for the primary decomposition of 3-carene. Both the conversion of 3-carene and the yields of the primary products (ie, benzene and hydrogen gas) are well predicted with this kinetic model. Rate of production analyses shows that the dominant pathways to convert 3-carene are hydrogen elimination reaction and radical chemistry.

International audience

International audience

International audience; The removal of hazardous organic micropollutants in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) has become a common concern for public decision‐makers and stakeholders. An advanced electro‐oxidation with boron‐doped diamond (BDD) anode material is proposed to remove acetaminophen as a representative micropollutant in synthetic solution. A customized microfluidic reactor was run in batch mode, and the main operating parameters (i. e. current density, interelectrode distance and solution conductivity) were optimized by minimizing the energy requirement. An optimal current density of 4 mA cm−2 and an optimal interelectrode distance of 500 μm were newly obtained and explained. Mass transport limitation was observed at lower gaps, with a 3.4‐fold decrease in the mass transfer coefficient from 500 μm to 50 μm intervals. In addition, the kinetics of degradation decreased dramatically after a certain electrolysis time. This was attributed to the increase in gas bubble production with treatment time. An increase in the solution conductivity from 0.23 to 2.0 mS cm−1 increased the degradation rate efficiency twofold and decreased the specific energy from 0.88 to 0.17 kWh g−1 at 85 % acetaminophen decay yield. The influence of a real matrix from low‐conductivity reclaimed WWTP (0.86 mS cm−1) highlighted slightly lower kinetics of degradation, but similar energy efficiency until 60 % of pollutant degradation and higher energy efficiency than in conventional macro‐reactors.

International audience; The cell-specific growth rate (µ) is a critical process parameter for antibody production processes performed by animal cell cultures, as it describes the cell growth and reflects the cell physiological state. When there are changes in these parameters, which are indicated by variations of µ, the synthesis and the quality of antibodies are often affected. Therefore, it is essential to monitor and control the variations of µto assure the antibody production and achieve high product quality. In this study, a novel approach for on-line estimation of µ was developed based on the process analytical technology initiative by using an in situ dielectric spectroscopy. Critical moments, such as significant µ decreases, were successfully detected by this method, in association with changes in cell physiology as well as with an accumulation of nonglycosylated antibodies. Thus, this method was used to perform medium renewals at the appropriate time points, maintaining the values of µ close to its maximum. Using this method, we demonstrated that the physiological state of cells remained stable, the quantity and the glycosylation quality of antibodies were assured at the same time, leading to better process performances compared with the reference feed-harvest cell cultures carried out by using off-line nutrient measurements. K E Y W O R D S antibody glycosylation, cell culture, in situ dielectric spectroscopy, real-time monitoring, specific cell growth rate

International audience; This work proposes a systematic approach for the design of formulated products incorporating consumer assessment and heuristic knowledge. The methodology is divided into two main phases: Consumer assessment and product realization. In the first part, product attributes valued by consumers and their interactions are identified through usability tests performed on a reference product, and fuzzy integral analysis. In the second phase, alternative product formulations are generated using a mixed‐integer optimization approach, which incorporates heuristic rules regarding the choice of ingredients and their amounts. The results from the consumer assessment phase are transformed into additional heuristics and incorporated into the design. Different alternative formulations are generated at a lab‐scale, by using two commercial skin moisturizers as references. Those formulations that included additional heuristics are shown to be more similar to the references. As a result, the incorporation of consumer preferences significantly reduced the time and resources spent on the design process.

International audience

International audience

International audience; A single polymer electrolyte fuel cell has been directly hybridized to a stack of three supercapacitors: the system formed has been investigated in operation in the Fuel Cell Dynamic Load Cycle, which emulates the energy demand in transported applications. Comparison with regular, non-hybridized fuel cell operation was analyzed in terms of hydrogen consumption in the case that the gas flow rates are directly controlled by cell current during the cycles with constant gas stoichiometric factors: the smoothening effect of the supercapacitors in the overall circuit leads to more even profiles of the cell current and voltage in the cycle, which allows safer and better hydrogen consumption management in this regime: the average H2 consumption per cycle could be reduced by 16% without change of the overall energy produced. Besides, the runs were conducted over more than 1300 hours with evaluation of the fuel cell performance and capacity at regular intervals, with or without hybridization. A moderate positive effect of hybridization was observed in the time variations of the voltage-current curves and the fuel crossover. However, the resistances for ohmic, charge transfer and diffusion phenomena, were not so much improved by the hybridization, in spite of less sharp voltage.

International audience

Significance This letter reports on the hydrophobicity and oleophilicity of open-cell foams from polymer blends prepared by supercritical CO2. A typical bulk density of the foam is measured to be 0.05 g/cm3. The contact angle of the foam with water is determined to be 139.2°. The foam can selectively absorb the diesel from water with the uptake capacity of 17.0 g/g. The foams are technologically promising for application of oil spill cleanup. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 4182–4185, 2016

International audience; A continuous pilot-scale tubular reactor is designed for the polymerization of acrylic acid in aqueous solution. The reactor is equipped with CSE-X static mixers from Fluitec which strongly increase heat and mass transfer despite laminar flow. A mathematical model of the reactor is proposed assuming that it is a perfect plug-flow reactor and using kinetic and rheological equations previously established using a lab-scale rheo-Raman device. Calculated values of temperature and polymer concentration profile along the reactor as well as outlet average molar masses and viscosity are in good agreement with experimental results. Provided that the outlet viscosity of reaction medium does not exceed 0.5 Pa s, no reactor fouling occurred. On the contrary, fouling is detected after 6 to 8 h running with higher viscosities. This work is the first demonstration of applicability of CSE-X static mixer elements in a continuous polymerization process producing high molar mass water-soluble polymer. In addition, successful scale-up of polymerization reactor is reported up to pilot-scale as well as batch to continuous transposition, only on the basis of lab-scale rheo-Raman data. The interest of rheo-Raman device for the acquisition of primary data is established.

Micro-particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) is a quantitative full-field technique for the velocity measurement for flows in microfluidics. The flow fields of both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids in microchannels were investigated by micro-PIV. The velocity profiles in various polymethyl methacrylate square microchannels were measured. Polyacrylamide aqueous solutions with different concentrations served as non-Newtonian fluids. Two viscous Newtonian fluids were also employed to serve as reference, in particular to validate a lattice Boltzmann (LB) simulation. Satisfactory flow measurements could be realized by the micro-PIV technique. The experimental velocity profile compares well with the LB simulation and an approximate solution. The experimentally measured velocity profile can lead to the quantification of the flow index of non-Newtonian fluids as an inline rheological characterization.

International audience; Comprehensive gas chromatography (GC) has emerged in recent years as the technique of choice for the analysis of volatile and semivolatile compounds in complex matrices. Coupling it with high‐resolution mass spectrometry (MS) makes a powerful tool for identification and quantification of organic compounds. The results obtained in this study showed a significant improvement by using GC×GC‐EI‐MS in comparison with GC‐EI‐MS; the separation of chromatogram peaks was highly improved, which facilitated detection and identification. However, the limitation of Orbitrap mass analyzer compared with time‐of‐flight analyzer is the data acquisition rate; the frequency average was about 25 Hz at a mass resolving power of 15.000, which is barely sufficient for the proper reconstruction of the narrowest chromatographic peaks. On the other hand, the different spectra obtained in this study showed an average mass accuracy of about 1 ppm. Within this average mass accuracy, some reasonable elemental compositions can be proposed and combined with characteristic fragment ions, and the molecules can be identified with precision. At a mass resolving power of 7.500, the scan rate reaches 43 Hz and the GC×GC‐MS peaks can be represented by more than 10 data points, which should be sufficient for quantification. The GC×GC‐MS was also applied to analyze a cellulose bio‐oil sample. Following this, a highly resolved chromatogram was obtained, allowing EI mass spectra containing molecular and fragment ions of many distinct molecules present in the sample to be identified.

Yeast extract (YE) is known to greatly enhance mammalian cell culture performances, but its undefined composition decreases process reliability. Accordingly, in the present study, the nature of YE compounds involved in the improvement of recombinant CHO cell growth and IgG production was investigated. First, the benefits of YE were verified, revealing that it increased maximal concentrations of viable cells and IgG up to 73 and 60%, respectively compared to a reference culture. Then, the analyses of YE composition highlighted the presence of molecules such as amino acids, vitamins, salts, nucleobase, and glucose that were contained in reference medium, while others including peptides, trehalose, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids were not. Consequently, YE was fractionated by a nanofiltration process to deeper evaluate its effects on CHO cell cultures. The YE molecules already contained in reference medium were mainly isolated in the permeate fraction together with trehalose and short peptides, while other molecules were concentrated in the retentate. Permeate, which was free of macromolecules, exhibited a similar positive effect than raw YE on maximal concentrations. Additional studies on cell energetic metabolism underlined that dipeptides and tripeptides in permeate were used as an efficient source of nitrogenous substrates.

International audience; A fast method is proposed for determining the oxygen gas-liquid diffusion coefficient from measurements of the fluorescence quenching behind a bubble. The approach consists of capturing pictures of the concentration field at micro-scale in the laminar bubble wake. The Gaussian concentration profiles measured in the wake are demonstrated to be systematically equivalent to an instantaneous plane diffusion case. The approach permits to accurately evaluate the gas-liquid diffusivity in a very short time of around one second.

International audience; In this article, the semi-group theory is exploited to study the controllability of a particular but important class of distributed parameter systems with a uniform distributed control variable. This class is described by a partial differential equation that characterizes the nonlinear diffusion phenomenon. The main idea consists of using the Cole-Hopf tangent transformation, under some assumptions, in order to derive an equivalent linear model of the nonlinear diffusion system. Then, the study of the controllability of the linear model, based on the semi-group approach, allows us to conclude about the controllability of the nonlinear diffusion system. The study is illustrated by an application example.

The thermal and mechanical properties of cassava starch films are analyzed in relation to the starch–kaolinite interactions. The kaolinite filler induces a lowering of the crystallinity in accordance with an increase plasticization of the starch matrix. The increase of plasticization induces a decrease of the elastic modulus and an increase of the elongation at break. A retardant effect to the starch matrix decomposition is observed. The filler–matrix interface at which the plasticizer infiltration is enhanced and the reduction of starch chain–chain interactions appears as keys of the observed properties changes. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:184–191, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers

International audience; Few commercially available membranes can be used for organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN). Applying OSN in chemical industries is nevertheless of high interest to cut with energy consumption linked to solvent recycling and soluble catalysts recovery. A commercial membrane, PERVAP4060, was used to investigate the retention of dilute solutes in toluene feeds and to mimic metathesis medium. The studied solutes were R-BINAP a neutral polyaromatic molecule used in metathesis chemistry, tetraoctylammonium bromide (ToABr), a charged molecule used as a homogeneous catalyst and n-hexadecane. Retention of polar ToABr (95%) was higher than that of neutral R-BINAP (80%). The transfer mechanism, either pore flow or solution-diffusion, was discussed. All the results obtained suggested that the transport is governed by the solution-diffusion mechanism. The measured retentions could be explained in terms of solubility affinities and diffusion coefficients. The stability and performances of PERVAP4060 were well established, showing the strong potential for industrial applications.

This work aims at preparing and characterizing poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA)—laponite (LRD) nanocomposite nanoparticles and nanocomposite core (PBA-LRD)-shell poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles, on the one hand, and the morphology and properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based blends containing PBA-LRD nanocomposite nanoparticles or (PBA-LRD)/PMMA core-shell nanoparticles as the dispersed phase, on the other hand. The PBA and (PBA-LRD)/PMMA nanoparticles were synthesized by miniemulsion or emulsion polymerization using LRD platelets modified by 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS). The grafting of MPTMS onto the LRD surfaces was characterized qualitatively using FTIR and quantitatively using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The amounts of LRD in the PBA-LRD nanocomposites were characterized by TGA. The PBA/PMMA core-shell par- ticles were analyzed by 1 H-NMR. Their morphology was confirmed by SEM and TEM. Mechanical properties of (PBA-LRD)/PLA blends and (PBA-LRD)/PMMA/PLA ones were tested and compared with those of the pure PLA, showing that core-shell particles allowed increasing impact strength of the PLA while minimizing loss in Young modulus and tensile strength. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 129: 2580-2590, 2013

International audience; The thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks offers an important potential route for the production of biofuels and value-added green chemicals. Pyrolysis is the first phenomenon involved in all biomass thermochemical processes and it controls to a major extent the product composition. The composition of pyrolysis products can be affected markedly by the extent of softening that occurs. In spite of extensive work on biomass pyrolysis, the development of fluidity during the pyrolysis of biomass has not been quantified. This paper provides the first experimental investigation of proton mobility during biomass pyrolysis by in situ 1H NMR spectroscopy. The origin of mobility is discussed for cellulose, lignin and xylan. The effect of minerals on cellulose mobility is also investigated. Interactions between polymers in the native biomass network are revealed by in situ 1H NMR analysis.

International audience; The effect of high air relative humidity (RH) cycling (RHC 62%/100%) on the degradation mechanisms of a single (5 x 5?cm2) proton exchange membrane fuel cells was investigated. The cell performance was compared to a cell operated at constant humidification (RHC?=?62%). Runs were conducted over approximately 1,500?h at 0.3?A?cm2. The overall loss in cell performance for the high RH cycling test was 12 mu V?h1 whereas it was at 3 mu V?h1 under constant humidification. Impedance spectroscopy reveals that the ohmic and charge transfer resistances were little modified in both runs. H2 crossover measurement indicated that both high RH cycling and constant RH test did not promote serious effect on gas permeability. The electroactive surface loss for anode and cathode during high air RH cycling was more significant than at constant RH operation. The water uptake determined by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance within the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) after high RH cycling was reduced by 12% in comparison with a fresh MEA. Transmission electron microscopy showed bubbles and pinholes formation in the membrane, catalyst particles agglomeration (also observed by X-ray diffraction), catalyst particles migration in the membrane and thickness reduction of the catalytic layers. Scanning electron microscopy was conducted to observe the changes in morphology of gas diffusion layers after the runs.

A mathematical and numerical investigations on the gas–liquid absorption of carbon dioxide in monoethanolamine solutions in a hollow fiber membrane contactor device is described. The reactive absorption mechanism was built based on momentum and mass transport conservation laws in all three compartments involved in the process, i.e., the gas phase, the membrane barrier, and the liquid phase. The liquid absorbing solution flows in the fiber bore in which the velocity is assumed to obey a fully developed laminar flow, and the gas mixture circulates counter-currently to the liquid flow in the shell side where the velocity is characterized by the Navier-Stokes momentum balance equations. The average outlet gas and liquid concentrations, the reactive absorption flux, and the gas removal efficiencies are parametrically simulated with operational parameters such as gas flow rate, fresh inlet amine concentrations, and fiber geometrical characteristics. The shell velocity was described by other flow hydrodynamics models besides Navier-Stokes and their simulated results were favorably compared to experimental data. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012

International audience; The feasibility of mono- and di-branched paraffins separation on silicalite was evaluated by performing cyclic breakthrough experiments in liquid phase with mixtures of 2-methylpentane (2MP), 3-methylpentane (3MP), 2,3-dimethylbutane (23DMB), and 2,2-dimethylbutane (22DMB). For mixtures of the faster diffusing species (2MP, 3MP, and 23DMB), cyclic steady state is obtained from the first cycle. On the other hand, when the slow diffusing species 22DMB is involved, a slow accumulation occurs from cycle to cycle, yielding a change of the breakthrough curves for all the species. Using a diffusion model especially adapted to adsorbent saturation loading, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of 22DMB were estimated. Influence of the cycling conditions on the separation performance were finally studied by simulation

International audience; Acrylonitrile and styrene radical copolymerization in a dispersed medium has been investigated. Experiments were carried out in a continuous stirred-tank reactor in the presence of a stabilizing agent elaborated in situ during polymerization. The continuous phase was a polyol. The numerous elementary chemical mechanisms concerning the copolymerization as well as synthesis and grafting of the stabilizing agent together with several physical phenomena clearly show the complexity of the process. Using justified assumptions and a simplified kinetic scheme, a tendency model of the process was developed, using mass balances and thermodynamics. Its unknown parameters were identified by use of an evolutionary algorithm and experimental data resulting from an adapted experimental strategy. This model was then validated and allowed to forecast, with an acceptable order of magnitude, the number and weight average molecular weights, monomers and transfer agent conversions, amounts of solids, copolymer composition, amounts of grafted copolymer, and average particle diameters versus the operating conditions.

International audience; This work reports, for the first time, on the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the kinetics of the activated polymerization of lactams. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was chosen to study the kinetics of the activated anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam in the presence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). A statistical test was carried out to confirm the validity of the experimental approach. The presence of the MWCNT slowed down the polymerization rate. This inhibiting effect depended not only on the MWCNT content but also on its state of dispersion in the polymerizing system. An autocatalytic model coupled with an evolutionary algorithm showed that the MWCNT content had an effect on the autocatalysis while its state of dispersion had an effect on the apparent polymerization kinetic constant.

International audience; The present study presents experimental results concerning the supercritical CO2 extraction of essential oil from Algerian rosemary leaves. The effects of key operating parameters such as pressure, temperature, particle size and CO2 mass flow rate on the extraction yield were investigated. The obtained yields were in the range of 0.95-3.52 g oil/g dry rosemary, and the best value was observed at a pressure of 22 MPa, a temperature of 40 °C, a flow rate of 7 g/min, and a particle size of 1 mm. The performance of the local rosemary used was assessed by comparison of the obtained yields with values reported in the literature for essential oils derived from different rosemary sources. The GC and the GC-MS analyses showed that the major compound detected in the essential oil was camphor, at 48.89 wt %.

International audience

International audience

The present paper reports a study of the motion of air bubbles in both non-Newtonian fluids and fluid-solid (laponite) suspensions. Quantitative information concerning the bubble rise velocity was obtained. In particular, the acceleration mechanism of the rise velocity in fluids was investigated by both a modern technique - Particle Image Velocimetry - and a classical method - birefringence visualization. An analytical modeling is proposed to compute the rise velocity of a bubble train with the memory effects. Finally, the visualization demonstrates that the bubble shape and rise velocity in a suspension are very complicated due to the displacement of solid particles by bubbles.

The grafting of polyamide 6 (PA6) onto polystyrene (PS) can rely on the use of a copolymer of styrene (St) and 3-isopropenyl-α,α-dimethylbenzene isocyanate (TMI), PS-co-TMI, to activate the polymerization of e-caprolactam (CL) in the presence of sodium e-caprolactam (NaCL) as an anionic catalyst. This article is aimed at answering the following key questions. First, do all the isocyanate moieties of the PS-co-TMI participate in the activation of the polymerization of CL? Second, what are the composition of the resulting polymer product and the structure of the resulting graft copolymer? The results show that the isocyanate moieties had all participated in the activation of the polymerization, implying that each isocyanate moiety has led to the formation of a PA6 graft. The as-polymerized product was composed of a pure PS-g-PA6 graft copolymer, homo-PA6, and unreacted CL. Moreover, when the composition of a PS-co-TMI/CL/NaCL system was fixed, the mass ratio between the PA6 grafts and PS backbone of the pure PS-g-PA6 graft copolymer was almost a constant and was almost independent of its molar mass.

A new PDMS macroinitiator is proposed for the anionic ring-opening polymerization of lactams. This α,ω-dicarbamoyloxy caprolactam PDMS macroinitiator was readily obtained in quantitative yield, by an original synthesis scheme in two steps, which involved the scarcely reported reaction of isocyanates with silanol groups. It was then shown that this bifunctional macroinitiator enabled to synthesize triblock copolymers PA12-b-PDMS-b-PA12 by polymerization of lauryl lactam (LL) at high temperature (200°C) in inert atmosphere under conditions compatible with reactive extrusion processes. Another related high molar weight α,ω-diacyllactam PDMS macroinitiator was also successfully used in the polymerization of LL under the same conditions, therefore overcoming the limitations formerly reported for this type of macroinitiators during the polymerization e-caprolactam (e-CL) at a much lower temperature (80°C). Triblock copolymers with a wide range of PA12 /molar weights (Mn: ∼ 10,800–250,000 Da) were eventually obtained by using both types of macroinitiators. DMTA and DSC analyses showed that their thermal properties were strongly dependent upon their respective contents in soft and hard blocks. Such triblock copolymers already appear very promising for the highly effective in situ compatibilization of PA12/PDMS blends as shown by recent complementary results obtained in our laboratory. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl PolymSci 102: 2818–2831, 2006

An on-line double-sensor turbidimeter for estimating the solids concentration or the mean particle size in a saturated slurry system in the presence of foreign insoluble particles is proposed. The correlation representing the operation of the double-sensor turbidimeter for on-line implementation is also developed. The technique relies on measuring the transmittance of an infrared light beam through the suspension, once in the presence of soluble particles and a second time when the soluble particles have completely dissolved. The device can be easily implemented on a crystallization system for monitoring and control applications. The maximum errors for solids concentration and mean particle size measurements were 13% and 7%, respectively.

International audience

In order to develop PP (polypropylene)-based blends with balanced toughness and rigidity, the poly-blends of PP/PC (polycarbonate)/POE (ethylene–octene copolymer) were prepared by applying styrene–ethylene–propylene–styrene (SEPS) as the macromolecular compatibilizer. The compatibilizing effect was studied in terms of the mechanical, morphologies and thermal properties, and the compatibilized PP-based blends presented remarkable improvement in impact toughness and balanced tensile strength due to the formed special morphology structure. Additionally, by preparing the pre-blend of PC/SEPS, the melt viscosity of the PP matrix can match that of the dispersed phase PC and POE, which led to a further improvement in the mechanical property of the blends. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.