Effect of reactive group types on the properties of core-shell modifiers toughened PA6

Summary  Reactive monomers such as acrylic acid (AA), maleic anhydride (MA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) were grafted onto acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene core-shell copolymer (ABS) by emulsion polymerization method. These functionalized ABS were used to toughen PA6. FTIR and Molau tests showed that these monomers were introduced onto ABS copolymers and compatibilization reactions took place between PA6 and the AA, MA and GMA grafted ABS. TEM result showed that the modified ABS copolymer dispersed in PA6 matrix uniformly and no obvious difference could be found between the different PA6 blends. However, mechanical test showed that GMA and MA modified ABS achieved much better toughening effect than the AA grafted ABS copolymer due to the stronger interfacial reactions. Fracture characterization indicated that PA6 toughened with GMA and MA modified ABS showed higher G_ivalues according to the Vu-Khanh approach and much obvious shear yielding in the deformed zone could be found.