Blends of rABS and SEBS: Influence of In-Situ Compatibilization on the Mechanical Properties

Abstract

In this study, the in-situ compatibilization reaction between recycled acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer (rABS) and functional styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene block maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MAH) was confirmed, which contributed to the toughening phenomenon of rABS, especially the notched impact strength. As mechanical test that manifested, the rABS/SEBS-g-MAH blends are stronger and more ductile than the rABS/SEBS blends. Prominently, the former has great advantage over the latter in terms of improving the impact performance. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that the compatible segments that were generated by reaction not only improve the interface adhesion of rABS/SEBS-g-MAH blends but also promote the evolution of co-continuous structures, which can be evidently observed after etching. Furthermore, the SEM micrographs of tensile fracture surfaces indicated that the formation of the co-continuous phase and the improvement of interface adhesion are the most profound reasons for the excellent tensile properties of the rABS/SEBS-g-MAH blends. The impact fracture surface revealed that two-phase interface affects crack propagation and shear yielding absorbs more impact energy than simple interface debonding does at higher deformation rates. Meanwhile, rheological analysis demonstrated that the complex viscosity of the rABS/SEBS-g-MAH (80/20 wt%) blend with a co-continuous structure exhibits a maximum positive deviation at low frequencies from the theoretical value calculated using the rule of logarithmic sum, which indicated a connection between co-continuous structure and complex viscosity. In addition, the storage modulus vs. loss modulus curves of the blends revealed that the viscoelastic behavior of rABS/SEBS-g-MAH blends is very similar to that of rABS.

Rheological, Mechanical and Morphological Characterization of Fillers in the Nautical Field: The Role of Dispersing Agents on Composite Materials

“…The observed break strength decrement is probably ascribable to a slight plasticizing action caused by the ionic dispersants [ 33 , 57 , 58 ], also taking into account that the studied hollow glass microspheres offer a modest reinforcement effect compared to other filler types. By contrast, the steric dispersants (i.e., samples 3 and 4) induced a considerable increment of the system elastic modulus, without affecting the break strength and only slightly reducing the filler deformability [ 59 , 60 , 61 ]. Compared to the rheological results, such findings indicate that steric dispersants are able to provide a much more marked compatibilization effect for the studied system (i.e., hollow glass microspheres embedded in an epoxy resin matrix), as well as the fact that ionic dispersants are almost completely ineffective and can even to some extent worsen the filler mechanical response.…”

Improvement of Impact Strength of Polylactide Blends with a Thermoplastic Elastomer Compatibilized with Biobased Maleinized Linseed Oil for Applications in Rigid Packaging

“…SEBS-g-MA is widely used as compatibilizer in polar/non-polar systems due to its dual functionality [41]. A remarkable increase in the impact strength, tensile strength and elongation at break of recycled polyacrylonitrilebutadiene-styrene (rABS) by blending with SEBS and using SEBS-g-MA as compatibilizer has been reported [42,43].…”

Recycled polyethylene/polyethylene‐ethylene‐1‐octene‐maleic anhydride composite with improved mechanical properties

“…However, the tan δ curves of composite materials first rise and then fall, along with the frequency improved. And with the increase of POE‐g‐MAH content, the loss peaks of the composite materials gradually move to the high frequency direction, which proves that the introduction of POE‐g‐MAH increases the compatibility of the mixed system 49 …”