Structure-Property Relationships in Elastomer-Modified Terpolymer Systems

Abstract

synopsisA number of terpolymers, incorporating as the elastomer phase polybutadiene, polyisoprene, poly-2,3-dimethylbutadiene, poly (butadiene-co-styrene), and poly (butadieneco-2-methyl-kinylpyridine), were studied. Matrices were composed of poly(styreneco-acrylonitrile) (SAN), poly(a-methylstyrene-co-acrylonitrile), and poly(styrene-coacenaphthylene). At constant elastomer content and elastomer molecular weight in systems employing a SAN matrix, Izod impact resistance was found to vary inversely with rising elastomer-glass transition temperature. In systems of various matrix composition, using a polybutadiene elastomer, heat deflection temperatures were found to vary directly and impact resistance inversely with rising matrix-glass transition temperature. In acrylonitrile-butadene-styrene (ABS), systems of constant matrix composition and elastomer content, varying the elastomer molecular weight, from 0.6 to 2.6 x 106 resulted in increasing the Izod impact resistance from 0.67 to 12.8 fblb/in. of notch.