Study of mechanical, thermal, morphological, and process rheology of acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA)/ Na +1 poly(ethylene‐co‐methacrylic acid) ionomer blend

Acrylonitrile–styrene–acrylic (ASA) terpolymer was blended with a sodium neutralized poly (ethylene‐co‐methacrylic acid) ionomer to develop a weather‐resistant ASA with good heat sealing and adhesion properties. Both tensile strengths and modulus were reduced by about 45% with an increase in Na‐ionomer concentration of 50%. The mechanical data were fitted with different models that predict mechanical behavior. The thermal stability was increased with the incorporation of ionomer. The temperature corresponding to 50% mass loss (T m50 ) was increased from 400°C (for ASA) to 427°C for 50/50 ASA/Na‐ionomer blend. SEM and AFM micrographs reveal the cone‐shaped microstructure on the ASA matrix surface after a critical Na‐ionomer concentration of 30%. This blend system follows typical non‐Newtonian behavior. The heat sealing performance study with metal was also carried out to investigate the utilization of these blend systems as a protective layer for metal. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1571–1579, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers