Effect of ultrafine rubber particles on the behavior of binary and ternary PA6 blends
Ivan Kelnar, Jiri Kotek, Ivan Fortelny, Jin-Liang Qiao
Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic

Keywords: Polyamide, ternary, blend

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Ternary blends polyamide 6 (PA6)/poly(styrene-co- maleic anhydride)/maleated rubber show very good balance of mechanical properties due to synergistic influencing of finely dispersed rigid polymer and elastomer particles. Rigid inclusions in fact replace elastomer by acting as stress concentration sites and by a subsequent strain hardening effect; as a result, not only toughness, but also strength are enhanced. Best results were found for size of both rigid and elastomer particles close to 100 nm. The reactive compatibilization applied leads to lower crystallinity and thus to a lower modulus of the surrounding matrix due to the copolymer formed at the interface (diffuse interface). On the other hand, these effects do not occur with pre-made vulcanized (powdered) particles, because ultrafine structure is achieved without compatibilization. As a result, blends with vulcanized particles exhibit higher strength and modulus. Further, the effect of the different deformability (resistance to cavitation) of dispersed rubber and of the interphase on micromechanical processes determining toughness of both the binary and ternary blends are discussed.