Effect of Compatibilizer and Organoclay Reinforcement on Morphology and Properties of Styrene Copolymer Blends

Abstract

The blending of polymers leads to materials with the desired combined properties. These properties can further be improved by the incorporation of compatibilizer, organoclay, or both. In the present manuscript, the effects of compatibilizer and organoclay, as well as their combined use on the rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties of styrene copolymer blends, is examined. Styrene-containing copolymers blends were prepared by melt-mixing in a twin screw extruder. The addition of SAN into ABS decreases its thermal stability, whereas it increases its tensile strength and modulus. The incorporation of organoclay in ABS/SAN blends increases their viscosity and slightly improves their thermal stability and significantly improves the tensile and storage moduli. In PC/SAN blends, the SAN copolymer increases the flow rate, as well as the tensile strength and modulus of PC, whereas it decreases the thermal stability. The addition of ABS-g-MAH compatibilizer in PC/SAN blends increases the melt viscosity and maximum decomposition rate temperature of SAN phase, while it leads to the earlier decomposition of the PC phase. The incorporation of organoclay reinforcement enhances the thermal decomposition resistance of thes SAN phase. The opposite effect was recorded for the PC phase. The addition of organoclay enhances the elastic modulus of PC/SAN hybrids.