The effect of styrene maleic anhydride compatibilizer on the performance of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blends

Abstract

The effect of styrene maleic anhydride as compatibilizer on the performance of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blends (PC/ABS) have been studied. The blends with varying amounts viz., 40, 50 and 60 wt% of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene have been melt mixed with 5 phb of SMA using twin screw extruder. The blends were characterized for mechanical behaviour interms of tensile properties and impact strength. Structural behaviour of the PC/ABS blends were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The flowability was tested using melt flow index tester. The thermal resistance was tested by carrying out heat deflection temperature test. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and crystalline melting point (Tm) of blends were determined using differential scanning calorimetry. The morphological behaviour of the PC/ABS blends were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. From the results obtained, it was observed that styrene maleic anhydride compatibilized blends exhibits a significant improvement in tensile and impact properties as compared to uncompatibilized polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blends. The results obtained by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the reaction of compatibilizer by the intensity and shifting of peaks in the compatibilized blend compositions. There was an improvement in flowability with increase in polycarbonate percentage and with compatibilizer compare to uncompatibilzed blends. There was an improvement HDT vlaues. The changes in Tg peak position in thermograms indicates that partial miscibility between the blend components. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the molecular level interactions between PC and ABS in presence of compatibilizer.