The effects of non-neutralized carboxylic acid(-COOH) on strain hardening of EMAA-54Na and EMAA-59Zn ionomers blended with StMAA and PS were investigated. In case of EMAA-54Na/StMAA blend, unexpected strong strain hardening appeared. However, this tendency was not found to all other samples. It was considered that cause of unexpected phenomena of EMAA-54Na/StMAA blend came from strong interaction between EMAA-54Na and StMAA due to acid-cation exchange mechanism proposed by Vanhoorne et al. Further, it was considered that nonneutralized carboxylic acid(-COOH) was the new key to increase the intensity of strain hardening for EMAA-ionomers.

The role of ion aggregates in EMAA ionomers on elongational viscosities under uniaxial, biaxial and planar was investigated. Firstly, measurement technique of biaxial and planar elongational viscosities for EMAA ionomers can be optimized due to its difficulties. After optimization, uniaxial, biaxial and planar elongational viscosities of ionomers were obtained. It was considered that effects of ion aggregates can not be appeared under uniaxial deformation in all of strain rates region. On the other hand, it was found that behavior of ion aggregates was changed under biaxial and planar deformations. It was considered that behavior of ion aggregates may be changed by two factors, deformation type and degree of strain rates.