Reactive compatibilisation and toughening of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)/polyamide 6 blends by maleic grafted styrene ethylene butadiene styrene copolymer and styrene maleic anhydride copolymer

Abstract

Maleic anhydride (MA) grafted styrene ethylene butadiene styrene copolymer (SEBS-g-MA) and styrene MA copolymer (SMA) were used to compatibilise and toughen poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)/polyamide 6 (PPO/PA6) blend. The mechanical properties, morphology and rheological behaviour of PPO/PA6/SEBS-g-MA/SMA blends with different SEBS-g-MA and SMA content were studied. SEBS-g-MA was an effective impact modifier for PPO/PA6/SMA blends, and the notched Izod impact strength reached 143 J m⁻¹ at the SEBS-g-MA content of 25 parts per hundred rubber (phr). The morphology observation showed that the dispersed phase of PPO/PA6 blends was more uniform, and its size became smaller after the addition of SMA, indicating an effective compatibilisation. Furthermore, the elongation at break of the blend reached 86·3% at the SMA content of 5 phr. In conclusion, PPO/PA6/SEBS-g-MA/SMA blends with better mechanical properties could be obtained at the SEBS-g-MA content of 20–25 phr and SMA content of 2–5 phr.