For use as electrical and electronics parts, or automobile and mechani
cal parts, toughened poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) is desired. For the
se applications, our. investigation centered on improving the toughnes
s of PPS and developing elastomer-toughened PPS and elastomer-toughene
d compounds of PPS. Using chemically treated PPS and an olefinic elast
omer with a functional group, we developed elastomer-toughened PPS usi
ng a reactive processing method. In the PPS matrix, the elastomer is f
inely dispersed. While the notched Izod impact strength of the origina
l PPS is about 1 kg . cm/cm, elastomer-toughened PPS has a notched imp
act strength around 50 kg . cm/cm. The notched fracture surface of ela
stomer-toughened PPS is observed using a scanning electron microscope.
We concluded that the mechanism for the toughening is attributed to e
nergy dissipation by matrix yield.