BLOCK COPOLYETHERAMIDES .3. BLENDS OF NYLON-6 AND BLOCK COPOLYETHERAMIDES

Blends of Nylon-6 and block copolyetheramides with hard segments of Ny lon-6 and soft segments of poly (tetramethylene ether) were prepared. The impact strength of the blends was enhanced by the presence of the block copolyetheramides as compared to the Nylon-6. Different block co polyetheramides exhibited different effects on the impact strength whi ch could be described as the difference in compatibility between the N ylon-6 and the Nylon-6 segments of the block copolymers. The differenc e in compatibility was verified by the investigations of TEM and DSC. As the caprolactam content of the block copolyetheramides increased, t he compatibility between the Nylon-6 and the Nylon-6 segments of the b lock copolymers was enhanced and the blends exhibited a higher impact strength in general. The heat deflection temperature of the blends dec reased as the polyether content (depending on the type and the content of the block copolyetheramide) of the blends increased. When the poly ether content was less-than-or-equal-to 20 wt %, a small decrease in h eat distortion temperature was found. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.