Effects of compatibilizer on mechanical, morphological, and rheological properties of polypropylene/poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) blends

The effects of a compatibilizer on polypropylene (PP)/poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) blends were studied. Blends of the PP/ABS, with PP-g-SAN copolymer as a compatibilizer, were prepared using a twin screw extruder. The flexural and impact strength of the PP/ABS blends with the PP-g-SAN copolymer increased significantly with PP-rich compositions on the addition of the PP-g-SAN copolymer at 3 phr. The increase in the mechanical properties of the PP/ABS/PP-g-SAN blend may have been due to the toughening effects of the ABS in the PP-rich compositions. In the morphology study of the PP/ABS/PP-g-SAN (80/20) blend with the PP-g-SAN copolymer, the minimum droplet size, 5.1 μm, was observed with the addition of 3 phr of the PP-g-SAN copolymer. The complex viscosity of the PP/ABS/PP-g-SAN (80/20) blends increased with the addition of 3 phr of the PPg-SAN copolymer. From the above mechanical properties, morphology and complex viscosity results for the PP/ ABS blends, it is suggested that the compatibility is more increased with the PP-rich composition (PP:ABS = 80/ 20 wt%) of the PP/ABS blend on the addition of 3 phr of the PP-g-SAN copolymer.