Study of mechanical, thermal, morphological, and process rheology of acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA)/ Na⁺¹ poly(ethylene‐co‐methacrylic acid) ionomer blend

Abstract

Acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylic (ASA) terpolymer was blended with a sodium neutralized poly (ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) ionomer to develop a weather-resistant ASA with good heat sealing and adhesion properties. Both tensile strengths and modulus were reduced by about 45% with an increase in Na-ionomer concentration of 50%. The mechanical data were fitted with different models that predict mechanical behavior. The thermal stability was increased with the incorporation of ionomer. The temperature corresponding to 50% mass loss (T m50 ) was increased from 400 C (for ASA) to 427 C for 50/50 ASA/Na-ionomer blend. SEM and AFM micrographs reveal the cone-shaped microstructure on the ASA matrix surface after a critical Na-ionomer concentration of 30%. This blend system follows typical non-Newtonian behavior. The heat sealing performance study with metal was also carried out to investigate the utilization of these blend systems as a protective layer for metal. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1571-1579, 2015

Thermal, dynamic mechanical, and creep behavior of carbon nanotube reinforced ASA/Na‐ionomer blend

“…The thermal stability of a material is defined as the temperature at which 50% mass is retained ( T m 50 ). The matrix polymer blend ASA/Na‐ionomer (NCNT 0) has characteristic T onset = 341.4°C and T m 50 = 427.2°C . Although the addition of MWCNTs has decreased the T onset continuously, the T m 50 data are raised to 439.4°C for NCNT 2.0 nanocomposite; further addition of nanotubes lowers the T m 50 data.…”

“…The ionomer chain contains acrylic acid groups, which resembles the acrylate groups of ASA, and thus, acrylic acid groups of the ionomer were preferentially grafted on the dispersed acrylate rubber of ASA. When the ionomer content was less than 30%, the ionomer chains were present in “lying” condition on ASA matrix phase, and above 30% ionomer content (the “brush” regime), the ionomer chains were present in “standing” condition; both were verified by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images . Both the “mushroom” and “brush” conformations were presented pictographically in literature .…”

“…“Peaks and valleys” type surface topology was also observed from atomic force microscopy (AFM) image under “brush” regime . This type of surface morphology has made the ASA/Na‐ionomer blend a potential smart polymer system if suitable filler systems are incorporated.…”

“…The ASA and ionomer blend systems have been recently studied by Datta et al They investigated the mechanical and thermal behaviors, morphology, linear and non‐linear rheology, and dynamic mechanical and creep behaviors of the ASA/Na‐ionomer blend system and ASA/Zn‐ionomer blend system . Conformational transition from the “mushroom” structure to “brush” structure was observed when the ionomer content was more than 30% in the ASA/ionomer blend system.…”

“…The 50/50 blend was selected because of its “brush” conformation. The improved thermal stability and heat‐sealing affinity to metal were the added advantages . The prepared nanocomposite system can find the outdoor applications, such as a coating for telecommunication components.…”