Effect of rubber particle cavitation on the mechanical properties and deformation behavior of high‐impact polystyrene

Abstract

Rubber particle cavitation has been the focus of many investigations because it dramatically affects the mechanical properties of polymeric blends. In this work, the effect of rubber particle cavitation on the mechanical behavior of high-impact polystyrene was studied. The extent of cavitation in rubber particles was varied via different thermal contraction/expansion cycles in the range of À100 to 238C. Tensile, creep, and Charpy impact tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of the degree of cavitation on the general mechanical properties. The notch-tip damage zone and deformation micromechanisms were also investigated by a transmitted optical microscopy technique to reveal the effects of cavitation on toughness. The results of this investigation illustrate a close relationship between the degree of rubber particle cavitation and the mechanical performance of high-impact polystyrene.

Polymer Engineering Science and Viscoelasticity

“…Such information may not be adequate to evaluate the long-term structural performance of a polymer used in engineering design. Serpooshan et al 2007) and ABS (right, Bucknall et al 2000) (Reprinted with permission of John Wiley and Sons, Inc and Elsevier)…”

Thermal annealing-induced superior toughness in polypropylene/poly(ethylene glycol) blend and its structural origin

“…a–c) than as phase‐separation domains. The formation of microvoids is mainly attributed to that the iPP/PEG blend system undergoing some expansion/contraction cycles like the melting/cooling and thermal annealing/cooling ones . Because the crystallizing point of iPP is much higher than that of PEG, the iPP phase crystallizes first when the blend cooling from melting.…”

Synthesis and mechanical properties of high impact polystyrene with in situ bulk polymerization toughened by one‐pot Nd‐based styrene–isoprene–butadiene terpolymer rubber

“…Neodymium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) phosphate [Nd(P 204 ) 3 ] was synthesized according to the reported method . CHCl 3 was refluxed over CaH 2 for 2 h under nitrogen before distillation, then it is used as a hexane solution (1.0 M ).…”

“…It is well‐known that rubbers with high cis ‐1,4 content possess excellent elasticity, which can further improve the toughness effect. SIBR initiated by Nd‐based rare earth catalyst is reported recently, which shows high cis ‐1,4 selectivity and random distribution . To the best of our knowledge, the novel Nd‐based SIBR served as toughened rubber to prepare in situ HIPS resins has not been probed.…”