Properties and morphologies of PVC/nylon terpolymer blends

A new kind of blends of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/nylon terpolymer was repor ted in this article. Two compatibilizers were used in this study: one is a terpolymer of ethylene-n-butyl acrylate-monoxide (EnBACO); the other is ter polymer of EnBACO grafted with maleic anhydride (EnBACO-g-MAH). The observa tion of scanning electron microscope (SEM) reveals that the PVC/nylon terpo lymer blends have a two-phase structure; and the nylon terpolymer phase is the continuous phase, and PVC domains in the PVC/nylon terpolymer/EnBACO-g- MAH blends have fine dispersion over a broad range of the PVC/nylon terpoly mer ratio. EnBACO-g-MAH is more compatible with the nylon terpolymer than E nBACO. EnBACO and EnBACO-g-MAH have different effects on the glass transiti on temperatures of the PVC phase and nylon terpolymer phase in the blends. The notched Izod impact strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, Vi cat softening temperature (VST), and melt flow index (MFI) critically depen d on PVC/nylon terpolymer ratio, the kinds and concentration of the compati bilizers. The PVC/nylon terpolymer/EnBACO-g-MAH blends display a good combi nation of high toughness, high flowability, and high VST under low load. (C ) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.