Effect of EVA-g-MAH on Mechanical Properties of PC/ABS Blends

Abstract

In this research, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer is melt grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH) to obtain EVA-g-MAH. It has been used at different concentration as a reactive compatibilizer for polycarbonate (PC)/poly (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) blends. The blends were injection molded and samples for tensile and impact strength tests were prepared. The results of tensile test show that yield strength decreases from 61.2 MPa to 53.4 MPa with increasing EVA-g-MAH concentration in prepared blends from 0 to 10 phr. Moreover, strain at break increases from 38% to 59% with increasing amount of EVA-g-MAH in blends from 0 to 5 phr. By increasing EVA-g-MAH content to more than 5 phr, elongation at break decreases. Moreover, the charpy notched impact test results show notched charpy impact strength of blends increases from 36.3kJ/m2 to 65.1kJ/m2 with increasing EVA-g-MAH content in prepared blends from 0 to 10 phr. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of broken samples confirms a ductile behaviour at break for samples treated with EVA-g-MAH.