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The separate roles of phase structure and interfacial adhesion in toughening a brittle polymer
Author(s) -
Liu N. C.,
Baker W. E.
Publication year - 1992
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.760322207
Subject(s) - materials science , toughening , brittleness , composite material , adhesion , polymer , phase (matter) , polymer science , toughness , organic chemistry , chemistry
The effects of rubber particle size and rubber/matrix adhesion on the impact properties of a brittle polymer have been separated using polystyrene (PS)/acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) as a model system in which interfacial chemical reaction could be controlled. It has been proven that the interfacial adhesion between the rubber phase and the PS matrix not only greatly aids in reducing the rubber particle size but also plays a further role in improving the impact properties of the matrix polymer. The impact energies of PS/NBR blends with interfacial chemical bonding are four to ten times as high as those without interfacial bonding for the same average rubber particle size. However, at temperatures below the glass transition temperature of the rubber, there is no difference in impact energies with or without interfacial chemical bonding. It has been found that the optimum rubber particle size for toughening PS is influenced by interfacial adhesion. Smaller optimum rubber particle size is observed for blends with greater amounts of interfacial chemical bonding.