Abstract
Reactive blending of polyamide-6 (PA6), maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-1-butene copolymer (EB-g-MAH) and ethylene-methacrylic acid ionomer partially neutralized by sodium ions (EMAA-Na) was performed to obtain a heat and oil resistant thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The strain at break of the PA6/EB-g-MAH (40/60) was clearly higher than that of the PA6/EB (40/60). Addition of 2 wt% of EMAA-Na to the PA6/EB-g-MAH (38/60) blend induced an increase of the tensile modulus. TEM images confirmed that the PA6 was the matrix phase in the PA6/EB-g-MAH (40/60) blend, while the EB rubber phase was the matrix in the PA6/EB (40/60) blend. It was considered that the reaction between amino end groups of PA6 and maleic anhydride in EB-g-MAH induced the significant change of blend morphology. The PA6/EB-g-MAH/EMAA-Na blend showed similar morphology with the PA6/EB-g-MAH blend, and the EMAA-Na was expected to be located within the EB-g-MAH phase. It was found that ionic aggregates were formed in the EB-g-MAH phase by neutralization of the hydrated EB-g-MAH with sodium ions. The change of the mechanical properties by addition of EMAA-Na was due to the ionic aggregate formation which acted as physical crosslinks in the EB-g-MAH phase.
Published Version
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