CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIOR OF PBT ABS POLYMER BLENDS/

Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) crystallization behavior is modifie d by blending it with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS) . The effects of ABS on melting and crystallization of PBT/ABS blends have been examined. Most ABS copolymers of different rubber content an d styrene/acrylonitrile ratios studied showed little effect on the mel ting behavior of PBT crystalline phase. However, ABS copolymer with hi gh acrylonitrile content had a significant effect on the crystallizati on behavior of the PBT/ABS blends. The nucleation rate of the PBT crys talline phase decreased due to the presence of the high acrylonitrile content ABS, whereas the spherulitic growth rate increased significant ly. These phenomena are attributed to changes in nucleation and growth mechanisms of PBT crystalline phase promoted by ABS. (C) 1999 John Wi ley & Sons, Inc.