Heat Aging Behavior of Novel Poly (Phenylene-Ether) Based Thermoplastic Elastomers

Abstract

Abstract The heat aging performance of a series of novel poly (phenylene ether) (PPE) based thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) from styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and PPE-polystyrene (PS), was studied. This quaternary blend showed superior heat aging performance due to the high Tg thermoplastic component (PPE). At 80 °C, different compositions of the quaternary blends were exposed for 500 hours. Effects of compositions, vinyl acetate (VA) content of EVA and different molecular weights (MW) of SEBS, on the mechanical properties upon heat aging were analyzed in detail. A representative composition (based on the mechanical properties) of the quaternary blend (SEBS/EVA/PPE-PS: 45/30/25) was exposed at different temperatures, i.e. 80 °C, 120 °C, 140 °C and 170 °C, for 2000 hours. Thermal degradation profiles of change in tensile strength and percent elongation at break due to thermal degradation of the blends were monitored and “half-life” temperature was estimated. Using the Arrhenius equation, the “lifetime” of the quaternary blend was predicted (100,000 hours at ∼131 °C). Change in functionalities due to chemical degradation was also monitored using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). As a consequence of degradation, the shift in Tg was observed by temperature modulated DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter). Detailed microstructural studies were done to establish the structure-property correlation, for degraded as well as pristine materials. The degradation mechanism was elucidated on the basis of morphology and structure studies of the blends.