Toughening of Polyamide-6with a Maleic Anhydride Functionalized Acrylonitrile-Styrene-ButylAcrylate Copolymer.

Maleic anhydride (MAH) functionalized acrylate-styrene-acrylonitrile(ASA) copolymers (F-ASA) were prepared via an emulsion polymerizationprocess. The F-ASA particles were used to toughen Polyamide-6 (PA-6).Molau tests showed the compatibilization reactions between PA-6 andF-ASA. The notched impact strength of PA-6 was effectively improvedby the use of F-ASA. At a rubber content of 20% by weight in PA-6/F-ASAblends, it was found that the impact strength increased with the MAHcontent. When the MAH content was 8% in F-ASA, the impact strengthwas 1008 J/m. The influence of rubber content on the properties ofPA-6/F-ASA8 blends was investigated. The results showed that brittle-ductiletransition took place when the rubber content was 20%. Moreover, increasingthe MAH content of the blends reduced the brittle-ductile temperatureof the F-ASA/PA-6 blends from 50 °C to about 0 °C. Scanningelectron microscopy (SEM) results showed that cavitation of rubberparticles and shear yielding of the PA-6 matrix were the major tougheningmechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]