Terminal anhydride functionalized polystyrene by atom transfer radical polymerization used for the compatibilization of nylon 6/PS blends

Terminal maleic anhydride functionalized polystyrenes were synthesized usin g atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The functionality of these p olymers was determined through their reaction with poly(ethylene glycol met hyl ether) (PEGM) followed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and nucle ar magnetic resonance (NMR). Melt mixing of these reactive polystyrenes wit h nylon 6 resulted in blends with good mechanical properties attributed to an in situ formation of a copolymer which may be used for the compatibiliza tion of the binary nylon 6/polystyrene. The mechanical properties of the re sulting ternary blends were significantly improved with the addition of the modified polystyrene even when the molecular weight of the polystyrene use d was higher than that of the respective block in the copolymer. The enhanc ed mechanical properties, as well as the fine PS dispersion in the nylon 6 matrix revealed by scanning electron microscopy of the compatibilized cryof ractured samples, support the hypothesis that an effective compatibilizatio n of nylon 6/PS has been achieved.