Study of Surface Mechanical Characteristics of ABS/PC Blends Using Nanoindentation

Abstract

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) are considered a well-known class of engineering thermoplastics due to their efficient use in automotive, 3D printing, and electronics. However, improvement in toughness, processability, and thermal stability is achieved by mixing together ABS and PC. The present study focuses on the understanding of surface mechanical characterization of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) blends using nano-indentation. Polymer blends sheets with three different proportions of ABS/PC (75:25, 50:50, and 25:75) were fabricated via melt-processing and thermal press. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed to analyze the intermolecular interactions between the blends’ components. To understand the surface mechanical properties of ABS and PC blends, a sufficient number of nano-indentation tests were performed at a constant loading rate to a maximum load of 100 mN. Creeping effects were observed at the end of loading and start of unloading section. Elastic modulus, indentation hardness, and creep values were measured as a function of penetration displacement in the quasi-continuous stiffness mode (QCSM) indentation. Load-displacement curves indicated an increase in the displacement with the increase in ABS contents while a decreasing trend was observed in the hardness and elastic modulus values as the ABS content was increased. We believe this study would provide an effective pathway for developing new polymer blends with enhanced mechanical performance.

Polymer Composites Based on Polycarbonate (PC) Applied to Additive Manufacturing Using Melted and Extruded Manufacturing (MEM) Technology

“…Unfortunately, the polymer components still do not show the expected properties; therefore, high functionality of the material can be achieved by strengthening the polymer matrix. Many scientists have attempted to combine the properties of PC with such a well-known material as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ] and poly(ethylene terephthalate) [ 19 ].…”

“…Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) are considered a well-known class of engineering thermoplastics due to their efficient use in 3D printing but also in automation and electronics. However, improvements in hardness, processability and thermal stability are achieved by blending ABS and PC together [ 15 ]. Kumar, M. et al in their work [ 14 ] investigated the effect of changes in material composition on mechanical properties.…”

“…The authors presented the possibility of introducing PC (from 10 to 30 wt.%) into the ABS matrix, obtaining fully compatible materials. Elsewhere [ 15 ], scientists incorporated 25–75 wt.% of the PC into the terpolymer. Each time [ 14 , 15 ], the mechanical strength and hardness of the composite improved along with the increase in the content of polycarbonate (PC) in the material.…”

“…Elsewhere [ 15 ], scientists incorporated 25–75 wt.% of the PC into the terpolymer. Each time [ 14 , 15 ], the mechanical strength and hardness of the composite improved along with the increase in the content of polycarbonate (PC) in the material.…”

“…However, the authors of [ 15 ] presented the possibility of obtaining composites based on poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate (GPET/PC) copolymer intended for 3D printing. The key feature tested was the thermomechanical resistance, measured by heat deflection temperature (HDT) and Vicat softening temperature (VST), but also mechanical tests and dynamic (thermo)mechanical analysis (DMTA).…”