Toughening behavior of polyamide‐rubber blends

The impact behavior of nylon 6‐ rubber blends is studied by varying the rubber concentration (0–26 vol. %), rubber particle size (0.1 ‐ 2.0 μm) and rubber properties. The brittle to tough transition shifts to lower temperatures by increasing the rubber concentration, decreasing the particle size and by lowering the modulus of the elastomer. With very small particle sizes, however, the transition temperature increases again. The toughness of the blends above their transition temperature increases with the rubber concentration, but the particle size has only some effect. Very small particle sizes decrease the impact behavior. The postulated deformation mechanism is cavitation of the rubber followed by shear deformation of the matrix.