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Toughening of nylon 6 with core‐shell impact modifiers: Effect of matrix molecular weight
Author(s) -
Lu M.,
Keskkula H.,
Paul D. R.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19960228)59:9<1467::aid-app15>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , composite material , natural rubber , dispersion (optics) , izod impact strength test , maleic anhydride , rheology , particle (ecology) , polymer , methyl methacrylate , shell (structure) , polymer chemistry , ultimate tensile strength , oceanography , physics , optics , geology
Rubber particle size is an important issue in toughening of engineering thermoplastics. Use of core‐shell impact modifiers offers the advantage of a predetermined particle size; however, these particles must be appropriately dispersed in the matrix polymer to be effective for toughening. Recent work has shown that core‐shell modifiers having a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shell can be dispersed in nylon 6 with the aid of certain styrene/maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers. These materials are miscible with PMMA and can also react with polyamides during melt processing. Enhanced interaction between the rubber and matrix phases as a result of the formation of in situ graft copolymers at the interface was suggested to contribute to the improved dispersion. However, rheological issues also influence the dispersion of core‐shell modifier particles in the matrix. This article examines the influence of the matrix melt viscosity on the dispersion of the core‐shell particles in the nylon 6 matrix and the resulting mechanical properties of the blends using four nylon 6 materials of different molecular weights. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.