Reactive Compatibilization and Elastomer Toughening of Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)/Polyamide 6 Blends

Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)/polyamide 6 (PPO/PA6) blends were reactively compatibilized by maleic anhydride (MA) grafted PPO (PPO- g-MA) and toughened by MA grafted styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) (SEBS- g-MA) via melt extrusion. The compatibilizing effect of PPO- g-MA on the PPO/PA6 blends was studied by using scanning electronic microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and mechanical properties tests. The notched impact strength of PPO- g-MA/PPO/PA6/SEBS- g-MA blends increased with increasing SEBS- g-MA content, leading to blends having super-tough behaviour. The fracture behaviour of the PPO/PA6 blends was studied using a modified essential work of fracture model (EWF), which showed that plastic deformation related to SEBS- g-MA was the crucial factor for the toughening.