Effect of Maleation on Polyamide‐6/EPDM‐G‐MAH Blends

Polyamide‐6 is an engineering thermoplastic. It finds its application in electrical, mechanical, and automotive parts due to its very good processing qualities and excellent barrier properties to oils. Unfortunately, Polyamide‐6 is relatively high priced, has poor impact strength particularly when notched, poor dimensional stability as well as poor barrier properties to moisture, which limits its applicability. The present study deals with the preparation of Polyamide‐6 and modified EPDM blends, varying the MEPDM concentration from 0 to 50 wt%. The objective of this study is to find the effect of maleic anhydride grafted EPDM on various mechanical properties such as tensile, impact, and flexural properties of Polyamide‐6. There was a decrease in tensile and flexural properties, but the notched Izod impact strength increased greatly when the MEPDM content was 30%. Predictive models have been used to explain the tensile modulus and strength. The paper describes a study of the effect of MEPDM on the thermal, electrical, optical, and morphological properties of Polyamide‐6. Studies of the morphology of PA‐6/MEPDM blends showed dispersed particle in the polymeric matrix.

Keywords:

• Polyamide‐6
• EPDM
• Notched impact strength
• Tensile properties
• Flexural properties
• Predictive models