NYLON 6-POLYETHERSULFONE-NYLON-6 BLOCK-COPOLYMER - SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION AS COMPATIBILIZER FOR POLYETHERSULFONE NYLON-6 BLEND/

Nylon 6-polyethersulfone (PES)-nylon 6 block copolymers were synthesiz ed by anionic polymerization of E-caprolactam using chlorine-terminate d PES, a polymeric activator. The structure and properties of these bl ock polymers were examined using infra-red, nuclear magnetic resonance , differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The compatibilizing effects of this b lock copolymer on PES/nylon 6 blends were investigated by examining th ermal properties, morphology and dynamic mechanical characteristics. W hen the block copolymer was added, the size of dispersed phase in the blend decreased dramatically, and the glass transition temperatures of the constituent polymers converge. The improvement of dynamic tensile modulus and thermal resistance due to the dispersed PES phase were en hanced by the added block copolymer. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.