Dispersion of poly(phenylene ether) in a poly(phenylene sulfide)/poly(phenylene ether) alloy

We have devised and developed a new method for the preparation of a poly(ph enylene sulfide)/poly(phenylene ether) (PPS/PPE) alloy, which has micro- di spersed PPE in the PPS matrix. PPS was chemically treated to activate the r eactivity of the PPS end-group by extrusion in the presence of diphenylmeth ane diisocyanate (MDI) in its molten state at 300 degreesC. The reactive pr ocessing of tile MDI-treated PPS with maleic anhydride-modified PPE gave a PPS/PPE alloy with micro-dispersed PPE in the PPS matrix. The PPS/PPE alloy showed mechanical properties superior to those of PPS at elevated temperat ure (150 degreesC) and also showed precision-molding ability superior to th at of PPS. SEM photograph of the MDI-treated PPS/maleic anhydride-modified PPE alloy 4 0 wt.-% glass fiber reinforced.