Direct Compatibilization of PS/EPDM/PA۶ Ternary Polymer Blends Through EPDM-G-GMA: Effect of Comonomer Content on the Morphology and Properties

In this study, Ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) and Polyamide۶ (PA۶) were used toimprove the toughness while maintaining tensile modulus of Polystyrene (PS) as a general purposepolymer widely used in several industrial applications. The effect of the direct injection of GMA (glycidylmethacrylate) as a functionalizing monomer on the morphology and properties PS/EPDM/PA۶blendswas investigated. PS/EPDM/PA۶ ternary blends containing GMA monomer and DCP(dicumylperoxide) initiator were prepared by a batch internal mixer at ۱۲۰ rpm and ۲۲۰ ºC. ATR-FTIR(Attenuated total reflection- Fourier transform infrared) results confirmed the grafting reaction of GMAfunctionalizing monomer on the polymer backbone and the epoxy-amine compatibilizing reaction. SEMmicrographs of all studied ternary blends showed to change the type of morphology from separateddispersed to partial core-shell morphology. The finest morphology was achieved at ۱۰ wt.% EPDM-g-GMA (T۱۰-C). The results of tensile test showed a valley shape for tensile modulus (min at T۱۰-C۱۸۳۵±۲۵ MPa and a hill shape for yielding stress (max at T۱۰-C ۲۷.۲±۰.۶ MPa). This behavior can beattributed to an increasing interfacial adhesion in low content of compatibilizer (up to ۱۰ wt.%) andappearing a coarse morphology in high content of compatibilizer (up to ۱۵ wt.%) because ofcoalescence phenomenon in the rubber phase. An impact test showed a hill shape (max T۱۰-C ۳۲.۷±۰.۷J/m). A sudden fall of impact strength in high content of compatibilizer (T۱۵-C) can be due to stressconcentration on the large dispersed particles. Finally, it can be claimed that the ternary blendcontaining ۱۰ wt.% (T۱۰-C) appeared the most balanced mechanical properties and the finestmorphology.

کلیدواژه ها:

Polymers ، Ternary Blends ، Direct compatibilizing ، glycidyl methacrylate ، Toughness