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In situ reactive compatibilization of aramid/polystyrene blends using amine‐functionalized polystyrene
Author(s) -
Shabbir Saima,
Zulfiqar Sonia,
Ahmad Zahoor,
Sarwar Muhammad Ilyas
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.21147
Subject(s) - compatibilization , materials science , polystyrene , polymer blend , thermal stability , polymer chemistry , copolymer , chemical engineering , aramid , polyamide , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , composite material , polymer , fiber , engineering
High molecular weight aramid chains (Ar) were synthesized from aromatic diamine and diacid chloride. Amine functionality was introduced to polystyrene (PS) in two steps i.e., nitration followed by reduction producing amino functional polystyrene (APS) which serves as a reactive compatibilizer, being reactive with the Ar end‐groups. APS was characterized by FTIR, NMR spectral data, and exploited in the preparation of Ar/APS blends, and the effect of reactive compatibilization on blend morphology and interfacial adhesion was explored. Two blend systems Ar/PS and Ar/APS were investigated over a range of PS or APS ratios. To assess the effect of amine units incorporated in PS, on the compatibility with Ar; morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties were probed. Incorporation of reactivity into the system has resulted in significant refinement of the blend morphology and augmentation of thermal stability. The in situ generation of APS‐ g ‐Ar copolymers during solution mixing of APS and Ar was evaluated using spectroscopic analysis. In addition to stabilizing the microstructure, in situ compatibilization was found to alter the mechanical properties of the Ar/APS interface. Ar/APS blend containing 10 wt% APS was found to demonstrate optimum mechanical reinforcement as complemented by the optimal thermal and morphological profiles of 10 wt% Ar/APS blend. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers