Effect of order of mixing on morphology and thermal properties of the compatibilized PBT and ABS alloys/OMT nanocomposites

Abstract

AbstractPoly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene terpolymers (ABS) alloys/organically modified montmorillonite (OMT) nanocomposites using terpolymers of random ethylene, methyl acrylate, and glycidyl methacrylate as the reactive compatibilizer were prepared by different melt‐mixing sequences. The microstructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and high‐resolution electron microscopy. It was found that order of mixing affects the dispersion state of OMT in the alloy matrix. The crystallization behavior of PBT in the compatibilized PBT and ABS alloys/OMT nanocomposites was studied by wide angle X‐ray diffraction. It revealed that order of mixing has influence on the preferential crystal growing direction of PBT owing to the antagonistic effect of ABS and OMT. Thermogravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry also showed order of mixing changes the thermal property of the compatibilized PBT and ABS alloys/OMT nanocomposites. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2130–2139, 2007