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Synthesis and processing of the (ethylene‐vinyl acetate‐vinyl alcohol) terpolymer and its blends with a polyamide and styrene copolymers
Author(s) -
Flores M.,
Hernandez G.,
Escobar A.,
Cardoso J.,
Palma A.,
Maciel A.,
Sanchez E.,
Manero O.
Publication year - 1998
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(19980207)67:6<1071::aid-app15>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - maleic anhydride , copolymer , materials science , polymer chemistry , vinyl acetate , polyamide , styrene , acrylonitrile , vinyl alcohol , ethylene vinyl acetate , polymer , composite material
In this article, the synthesis and properties of the (ethylene‐vinyl acetate‐vinyl alcohol) terpolymer are studied in detail. A transesterification reaction with alcohols was conducted on poly(ethylene‐vinyl acetate) to obtain terpolymers with varying hydroxide contents through three different routes: in solution, in a mixing chamber, and in a twin‐screw extruder. The kinetics of the reaction in the mixing chamber are compared with those of the twin‐screw extruder. Mechanical and rheological properties of the terpolymer are examined as a function of conversion. Blends of the terpolymer with polyamide (Nylon‐6) were prepared for various compositions. They show a steep reduction in the equilibrium torque with respect to that of the polyamide. A region of compatibility at high polyamide contents gives rise to an increase of some mechanical properties above the simple mixing rule (Young's modulus). On the other hand, blends with poly(styrene‐acrylonitrile) and poly(styrene maleic anhydride) show a region of compatibility at equal proportions of the styrene copolymers and with 10% terpolymer content, induced by the reaction of the hydroxide and maleic anhydride groups. This reaction is inhibited at high styrene‐acrylonitrile concentrations due to interference presented by the effect of interactions between the maleic anhydride and acrylonitrile groups. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67:1071–1083, 1998