Effect of Methyl Methacrylate Graft Acrylonitrile–Butadiene-Styrene on Morphology and Properties of Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile–Butadiene-Styrene Blend

Abstract

In order to improve the compatibility of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile– butadiene–styrene (ABS), a new type of reactive compatibilizer, methyl methacrylate graft acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (MABS) tetramer, was synthesized. The structure and properties of PC/ABS (70/30) blend with various MABS ratios were studied in terms of their mechanical and morphological properties. The results indicated that with the addition of MABS, the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the PC and ABS phases were closer to each other. Addition of MABS decreased the domain size of the ABS dispersed phase, making the dispersed phase well distributed, and the interfacial cohesiveness was enhanced. Notched impact strength and elongation at break of the PC/ABS (70/30) blend increased remarkably with the addition of MABS, with a small drop in the tensile strength.

Keywords:

• acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene
• blend
• compatibilizer
• mechanical properties
• polycarbonate

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for financial support from the Key Science and Technology Project of Shanxi Province (no. 20100321081), and partially from the Department of Personnel of Shanxi Province (Special Funding for Talent Introduction and Development).