Reactive compatibilization of blends of nylon 6 and ABS materials

Abstract

Blends of nylon 6 with various ABS materials including its styrene/acrylonitrile, SAN, matrix component were examined for rheological behaviour, mechanical properties, and phase morphology. These mixtures have poor mechanical properties unless properly compatibilized. This was done here by adding to the SAN phase a polymer that is miscible with it but which contains functional groups that can react with the nylon 6 to form in situ, graft copolymers at the polymer-polymer interfaces. These compatibilizer molecules contained either anhydride or oxazoline units for reactivity. Evidence of reactions in the blends was seen in the rheological behaviour of the melt and in the morphology and mechanical behaviour of the solid. Some blends exhibited outstanding toughness. A more quantitative assessment of the extent of reaction was provided by a selective solvent extraction technique. Lap shear adhesion measurements for laminates of nylon 6 with materials containing reactive polymers provided a direct way to assess the effectiveness of the interfacial reaction.