Control of the composition of matrix resin for the design of MABS resin with good transparency and toughness

Abstract

Transparent methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (MABS) resin was prepared by blending the matrix resin with rubber toughened particles. The refractive index of matrix resin was characterized, which proved the transmittance of MABS resin improved with decreasing differences in the two-phase refractive index. Controlling the refractive index of the matrix resin was comparable to that of rubber, increasing acrylonitrile (AN) content in the matrix resin to improve toughening efficiency of the rubber particles to the matrix. When the proportion of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (PMMA/SAN) was 71.6/28.4 or the initial weight ratio of MMA/St/AN was 78/16.5/5.5, the MABS resin had an optimal transmittance of 90 %. The AN content of the former was 6.5 %, and the impact strength was 155 J/m. The actual AN content of the latter was 12.5 %, and the impact strength was 172 J/m. Additionally, the refractive index of methacrylate-styrene-acrylonitrile (MSAN) decreased with increasing monomer conversion. When the monomer conversion reached 76.5 %, the change in the composition of MSAN was insignificant as the monomer conversion continued to increase. Moreover, MABS resin had a broad processing temperature window with MSAN copolymer as the matrix resin compared to the blends of PMMA and SAN, which were 170–240 °C and 190–200 °C, respectively.