Mechanical, thermal, and water uptake characteristics of woodflour‐filled polyvinyl chloride/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blends

Woodflour‐filled composites based on polymeric blends of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and super high‐impact grade ABS were developed. Mechanical, thermal, and water uptake characteristics of the PVC/ABS matrix and their wood composites were evaluated. In the case of PVC/ABS matrix, the blend at a mass ratio of 50/50 rendered the impact strength with a very high value of up to 65 kJ/m 2 , noticeably higher than those of the parent resins, that is, 6 kJ/m 2 of PVC and 35 kJ/m 2 of ABS. Dynamic mechanical analysis thermograms showed two distinct glass transition temperatures ( T g s) that shifted toward each other indicating partial miscibility of the blends. Water absorption of the blends after 24 h immersion was low, that is, within the range of 0.04–0.2 wt % and exhibits a behavior closed to pseudo‐Fickian type. The obtained PVC/ABS wood composites exhibited an increase of flexural modulus as well as T g s with an increase of woodflour content. Finally, impact strength of the PVC/ABS composites was significantly higher than those of PVC composites or polyethylene composites comparing at the same woodflour content. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012