Weld‐line characteristics of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene blends. I. Effect of the processing temperature

The effects of the processing temperature on the morphology and mechanical properties at the weld line of 60/40 (w/w) polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) copolymer blends were investigated. The influences of the incorporation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a compatibilizer and an increase in the viscosity of the dispersed ABS domain phase were also studied. The ABS domain was well dispersed in the region below the V notch, and a coarse morphology in the core region was observed. When tensile stress was applied perpendicularly to the weld line, the fracture propagated along the weak region behind the weld part; there, the domain phase coalescence was significant because of the poor compatibility between PC and styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN). Phase coalescence became severe, and so the mechanical strength of the welded specimen decreased with an increasing injection‐molding temperature. The domain morphology became stable and the mechanical strength increased as the viscosity of the domain phase increased or some SAN was replaced with PMMA. That the morphology was well distributed behind the weld line and the mechanical properties of PC/ABS/PMMA blends were improved was attributed to the compatibilizing effect of PMMA. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 689–699, 2005     

Studies on morphology and thermomechanical performance of ABS/PC/organoclay hybrids

In the present research, poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene)/polycarbonate (ABS/PC) blends were prepared in a twin screw extruder. An attempt to reinforce and promote compatibility of the above systems was made by the incorporation of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT, Cloisite 30B), as well as by the addition of compatibilizer (ABS grafted with maleic anhydride, ABS‐g‐MAH), and the effect of those treatments on the morphology, thermal transitions, rheological, and mechanical properties of the above blends was evaluated. The addition of compatibilizer in ABS/PC blends does not significantly affect the glass transition temperature (T_g) of SAN and PC phases, whereas the incorporation of Cloisite 30B decreases slightly the T_g values of SAN and, more significantly, that of PC in compatibilized and uncompatibilized blends. The T_g of PB phase remains almost unaffected in all the examined systems. The obtained results suggest partial dissolution of the polymeric components of the blend and, therefore, a modified Fox equation was used to assess the amount of PC dissolved in the SAN phase of ABS and vice versa.Reinforcing with OMMT enhances the miscibility of ABS and PC phases in ABS/PC blends and gives the best performance in terms of tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and storage modulus, especially in 50/50 (w/w) ABS/PC blends. The addition of ABS‐g‐MAH compatibilizer, despite the improvement of intercalation process in organoclay/ABS/PC nanocomposites, did not seem to have any substantial effect on the mechanical properties of the examined blends. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1395–1407, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The simultaneous addition of styrene maleic anhydride copolymer and multiwall carbon nanotubes during melt‐mixing on the morphology of binary blends of polyamide6 and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer

The effect of simultaneous addition of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and a reactive compatibilizer (styrene maleic anhydride copolymer, SMA) during melt‐mixing on the phase morphology of 80/20 (wt/wt) PA6/ABS blend has been investigated. Morphological analysis through scanning and transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed finer morphology of the blends in presence of SMA + MWNTs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis indicated the formation of imide bonds during melt‐mixing. Non‐isothermal crystallization studies exhibited the presence of a majority faction of MWNTs in the PA6 phase of 80/20 (wt/wt) PA6/ABS blend in presence of SMA + MWNTs. Rheological analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis have demonstrated the compatibilization action of simultaneous addition of a reactive compatibilizer (SMA copolymer) and MWNTs in PA6/ABS blends. An attempt has been made to investigate the role of simultaneous addition of SMA copolymer and MWNTs on the morphology of 80/20 (wt/wt) PA6/ABS blend through various characterization techniques. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:457–465, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of ABS‐g‐MAH on mechanical properties and compatibility of ABS/PC alloy

The effects of a compatibilizer, namely, an acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer (ABS) grafted with maleic anhydrade (MAH) (ABS‐g‐MAH), on the mechanical properties and morphology of an ABS/polycarbonate (PC) alloy were studied The results showed that a small quantity of ABS‐g‐MAH has a very good influence on the notched Izod impact strength of the ABS/PC alloy without compromising other properties such as the tensile strength, flexural strength, and Vicat softening temperature (VST). The impact strength of the ABS/PC alloy, to a great extent, depends on the loading of ABS‐g‐MAH and the degree of grafting (DG) of MAH in the ABS‐g‐MAH. DSC analysis and SEM observation confirmed that ABS‐g‐MAH could significantly improve the compatibility of the ABS/PC alloy. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 831–836, 2001     

Blends of recycled polycarbonate and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene: comparing the effect of reactive compatibilizers on mechanical and morphological properties

Blends of recycled polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) were prepared and some mechanical and morphological properties were investigated. To compatibilize these blends, ABS‐g‐(maleic anhydride) (ABS‐g‐MA) and (ethylene–vinyl acetate)‐g‐(maleic anhydride) (EVA‐g‐MA) with similar degree of grafting of 1.5% were used. To compare the effect of the type of compatibilizer on mechanical properties, blends were prepared using 3, 5 and 10 phr of each compatibilizer. A co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder was used for blending. The results showed that ABS‐g‐MA had no significant effect on the tensile strength of the blends while EVA‐g‐MA decreased the tensile strength, the maximum decrease being about 9.6% when using 10 phr of this compatibilizer. The results of notched Charpy impact strength tests showed that EVA‐g‐MA increased the impact strength of blends more than ABS‐g‐MA. The maximum value of this increase occurred when using 5 phr of each compatibilizer, it being about 54% for ABS‐g‐MA and 165% for EVA‐g‐MA. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the particle size of the dispersed phase was decreased in the continuous phase of PC by using the compatibilizers. Moreover, a blend without compatibilizer showed brittle behaviour while the blends containing compatibilizer showed ductile behaviour in fracture. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Relationship between the interfacial tension and compatibility of polycarbonate and poly(acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) blends with reactive compatibilizers

We studied the morphological, mechanical, and rheological properties of polycarbonate (PC) and poly(acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) (PolyABS) blends with different types of compatibilizer. Styrene–acrylonitrile–maleic anhydride terpolymer (SAM) was used as a compatibilizer of the blends. For comparison, styrene–acrylonitrile–glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer (SAG) was also used as a compatibilizer. For the PC–PolyABS (70/30 wt %) blends with SAM, the mechanical strength and complex viscosity reached a maximum when the SAM concentration was 5 phr. The mechanical and rheological results of the blend were consistent with the morphological result that the PolyABS domain size reached a minimum when the SAM content was 5 phr. The interfacial tension (α) of the blend was compared with the compatibilizer type and content, which were calculated by the Palierne emulsion model with the relaxation time of the PC–PolyABS blend. The α is consistent with the morphological and mechanical properties of the PC–PolyABS blend. The results of the morphological, mechanical, and rheological properties of the blend suggest that SAM was a more effective compatibilizer than SAG, and the optimum compatibilizer content of SAM was 5 phr. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46418.     

Synthesis of functionalized copolymers and their compatibilization effects on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/poly(butylene terephthalate) blends

In this study, the copolymers of methyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate (MGD) with different epoxy contents and molecular weights, the styrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate (SGD) and methyl methacrylate-co-maleic anhydride (MAD) were synthesized. The synthesized copolymers, styrene-co-maleic anhydride (SMA) and styrene-acrylonitrile-co-glycidyl methacrylate (SAG) were used as compatibilizers to enhance the impact strength of the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/poly(butylene terephthalate) (ABS/PBT). The effects of differences in the structure, reactive group type, and molecular weight of the compatibilizers on the mechanical properties, phase morphology, melt viscosity, thermal stability, and melting temperature of the blend were studied. The results showed that functionalized copolymers were successfully synthesized with high monomer conversions. Addition of the functionalized copolymers increased melt viscosity but did not considerably affect thermal stability, tensile strength, flexural strength and melting temperature of the ABS/PBT blends. The compatibilizers improved the dispersion of the PBT phase and prevented brittle fracture, thereby increasing the impact strength of the blend. Among the studied compositions, the ABS/PBT/MGD-5 blend exhibited the highest impact strength of 25.8 kJ/m² and an appropriate melt flow index of 19.1 g/10 minutes. The compatibilizer should have an appropriate molecular weight to improve the interface bonding force. Regarding the melting viscosity, the reactive group content and compatibilizer dosage should be adjusted to ensure high impact strength.     

Rheology,morphology, and crystallization behavior of melt‐mixed blends of polyamide6 and acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene: Influence of reactive compatibilizer premixed with multiwall carbon nanotubes

Blends of polyamide6 (PA6) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) were prepared in presence or absence of up to 5 wt % of a reactive compatibilizer [styrene maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) modified with 5 wt % multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT)] by melt‐mixing using conical twin screw microcompounder where the ABS content was varied from 20 to 50 wt %. The melt viscosity of the blends was significantly enhanced in presence of SMA modified by multiwall carbon nanotubes due to the reactive compatibilization, which leads to stabilized interphase in the blends. Furthermore, the presence of MWNT in the compatibilizer phase led to additional increase in viscosity and storage modulus. Morphological studies revealed the presence of either droplet‐dispersed or cocontinuous type depending on the blend compositions. Further, reactive compatibilization led to a significant change in the morphology, namely a structure refining, which was enhanced by MWNT presence as observed from SEM micrographs. DSC crystallization studies indicated a delayed crystallization response of PA6 in presence of ABS presumably due to high melt viscosity of ABS. The crystallization temperature and the degree of crystallinity were strongly dependent on the type of morphology and content of reactive compatibilizer, whereas the presence of MWNT had an additional influence. SAXS studies revealed the formation of thinner and less perfect crystallites of PA6 phase in the blends, which showed cocontinuous morphology. A unique observation of multiple scattering maxima at higher q region has been found in the blends of cocontinuous morphology, which was observed to be successively broadened in presence of the compatibilizer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Boiling water aging of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene resin and polycarbonate/low‐density polyester blends

The effects of boiling water on the mechanical and thermal properties and morphologies of polycarbonate (PC), PC/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene resin (PC/ABS), and PC/low‐density polyester (PC/LDPE) blends (compositions of PC/ABS and PC/LDPE blends were 80/20) were studied. PC and the PC/ABS blend had a transition from ductile to brittle materials after boiling water aging. The PC/LDPE blend was more resistant to boiling water aging than PC and the PC/ABS blend. The thermal properties of glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and melting temperature (T_m) in PC and the blends were measured by DSC. The T_g of PC and PC in the PC/ABS and PC/LDPE blends decreased after aging. The T_g of the ABS component in the PC/ABS blend did not change after aging. The supersaturated water in PC clustered around impurities or air bubbles leading to the formation of microcracks, which was the primary reason for the ductile–brittle transition in PC, and the microcracks could not recover after PC was treated at 160°C for 6 h. The PC/ABS blend showed slightly higher resistance to boiling water than did PC. The highest resistance to boiling water of the PC/LDPE blend may be attributed to its special structural morphology. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 589–595, 2003     

Impact strength in ABS–PPO blends compatibilized with styrene–acrylonitrile–glycidil methacrylate terpolymers

The impact strength of the acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene terpolymer–poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide (ABS–PPO) blends compatibilized with styrene–acrylonitrile modified with glycidil methacrylate (SAN–GMA) terpolymer can be significantly enhanced by the various processing conditions in reaction extrusion. Four different ABS terpolymers are used depending on the composition of acrylonitrile, styrene, and butadiene. The morphology of polybutadiene latex in ABS-1, ABS-3, and ABS-4 is an agglomerated type, while that of ABS-2 is a bimodal one. The three different methods in in situ compatibilizing extrusion are employed; the simple mixing of ABS and PPO, the simultaneous mixing of ABS and PPO, the reactive compatibilizer SAN–GMA, maleic anhydride (MA; designated A-series), and then the stepwise mixing of the mixtures of ABS–SAN–GMA in the MA-modified PPO (designated B-series). Although the ABS-4–PPO blend depicted the highest impact strength in the simple mixing, the ABS-3B–PPO blend showed the best impact strength in the stepwise mixing. The former behavior may be arisen from the high content of BR, whereas the latter may be due to the agglomerated rubber phase with SAN–GMA. The highest impact strength (47 kg·cm·cm⁻¹) was observed in ABS-3B–PPO at 50/50 with an inclusion of 10 wt % GMA (2) and 1 wt % MA. Thus, the proposed reaction mechanism is an existence of the compatibility between ABS and SAN–GMA and the reactivity between the MA-modified PPO and SAN–GMA. Phase morphology of the ABS-2–PPO and ABS-3–PPO blends were compared, and more efficient dispersion of ABS was observed in the B-series than in the A-series. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 841–852, 1999     

The Influence of NBR-g-GMA Compatibilizer on the Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Poly (ethylene terephthalate)/Polycarbonate/NBR Ternary Blends

The work aims to study the role of NBR-g-GMA compatibilizer on the morphology and mechanical characteristics of PET/PC/NBR ternary blends. The compatibilizer content and amount of constitutive polymers are changed to correlate morphology development with mechanical properties. Various ternary samples are prepared using a twin-screw extruder whereat weight percent of rubbery dispersed phase (NBR+NBR-g-GMA) is changed. Analyzing the morphology of produced samples and interpretation of mechanical properties corroborated the role of the mentioned factors on the type of morphology and also the size of both individual and composite domains in these sorts of ternary blends. Based on this attempt, the mechanical properties of 50/50 blends of NBR/NBR-g-GMA, showed maximum toughness value compared to pure PET specimen. Also, the results revealed that by increasing the rubber content, the rodlike structures were disappeared; besides, toughness was increased. On the contrary, by increasing PC content, rodlike structures have seen by morphological study; however, core-shell droplets formed in the blend structure caused enhancing the impact strength and reducing Young's modulus. Ultimately, the ternary blend of 63/7/30 of PET/PC/ (NBR+NBR-g-GMA) revealed the best mechanical properties due to proper interaction between the PET matrix and rubbery domains in the presence of reactive compatibilizer.     

PC/UHMWPE/(HDPE/LDPE)-g-GMA共混物的形态结构与力学性能

采用反应挤出增容方法，制备了PC／UHMWPE／(HDPE／LDPE)-g-GMA共混物，并对其力学性能和形态结构进行研究。结果表明：共混物的冲击断面出现了严重的撕裂现象，基体产生了剪切屈服形变；共混物的拉伸强度随相容剂和UHMWPE用量的增加而降低，冲击强度随着相容剂用量的增加呈现先增加后减小的变化；当相容剂用量为6份时，冲击强度达到最大值66kJ／m^2，比未增容的PC／UHMWPE共混物提高了28．5kJ／m^2。     

Film insert molding as a novel weld‐line inhibition and strengthening technique

Specimens with weld lines were produced via conventional and film insert molding techniques using two types of materials as the substrate resin, i.e. a polycarbonate/acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (PC/ABS) blend and glass fiber‐filled polycarbonate (PC‐gf). The formation and morphology of the weld line region was assessed with and without the presence of 0.5‐mm‐thick PC film inserts. The weld line formation and characteristics were found to be dependent on the extent of interaction between the injected resin and the mold surface or the film insert. Better interfacial interaction between the substrate and film led to the distortion of the weld line orientation, which significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the weld line. The incorporation of glass fibers into the substrate resin would usually reduce the resistance of the weld line towards tensile, flexural and impact loadings. However, with the attachment of film inserts, the mechanical properties of the weld line region have significantly improved, even with the presence of rigid fibers. Upon examination of tensile and impact fracture surfaces of film insert specimens, a unique orientation of fibers across the weld line (parallel to the flow direction and perpendicular to the weld line) could be observed at regions directly under the film. The combination of favorable properties from the unique fiber orientation and distortion of the weld line, as well as the ability of the film to effectively dissipate forces towards a larger area, have synergistically contributed towards the mechanical property enhancement of the weld line region in film insert moldings. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

PC／ABS合金的增韧研究

对弹性体和增容剂增韧PC／ABS合金进行了试验研究,表明弹性体与增容剂的适当组合优于单组份的增韧效果,并且利用这种协同作用,可在一定程度上克服增韧对材料拉伸强度等性能指标造成的损失,达到优化材料性能的目的。     

TPP和MBS对PC/ABS合金性能的影响

研究了磷系阻燃剂磷酸三苯酯(TPP)、增容剂甲基丙烯酸甲酯丁二烯苯乙烯(MBS)对聚碳酸酯(PC)/丙烯腈丁二烯苯乙烯共聚物(ABS)合金热稳定性、阻燃性能和力学性能的影响。结果表明,当加入16.7 % TPP(质量分数,下同)时,合金的UL 94测试可以达到 V-0级,极限氧指数也有了极大的提高;经MBS增容后,合金阻燃等级降低,极限氧指数较未增容合金提高0.5 %左右;加入TPP能减缓PC/ABS合金的降解,提高合金热稳定性,增加最终残炭率,但MBS的加入在一定程度上降低了合金的热稳定性。     

Melting and crystallization behaviors of compatibilized poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene blends

The melting and crystallization behaviors of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT)/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) blends were investigated with and without epoxy or styrene–butadiene–maleic anhydride copolymer (SBM) as a reactive compatibilizer. The existence of two separate composition-dependent glass-transition temperatures (T_g's) indicated that PTT was partially miscible with ABS over the entire composition range. The melting temperature of the PTT phase in the blends was also composition dependent and shifted to lower temperatures with increasing ABS content. Both the cold crystallization temperature and T_g of the PTT phase moved to higher temperatures in the presence of compatibilizers, which indicated their compatibilization effects on the blends. A crystallization exotherm of the PTT phase was noticed for all of the PTT/ABS blends. The crystallization behaviors were completely different at low and high ABS contents. When ABS was 0–50 wt %, the crystallization process of PTT shifted slightly to higher temperatures as the ABS content was increased. When ABS was 60 wt % or greater, PTT showed fractionated crystallization. The effects of both the epoxy and SBM compatibilizers on the crystallization of PTT were content dependent. At a lower contents of 1–3 wt % epoxy or 1 wt % SBM, the crystallization was retarded, whereas at a higher content of 5 wt %, the crystallization was accelerated. The crystallization kinetics were analyzed with a modified Avrami equation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Dynamic‐mechanical analysis of MWNTs‐filled PC/ABS blends

In a systematic manner, the roles of MWNTs as filler and styrene acrylonitrile copolymer‐graft‐maleic anhydride (SAN‐MA) as compatibilizer, individually and together, on dynamic‐mechanical behavior of polycarbonate (PC)‐rich/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymer (ABS) blend were studied. The investigations were performed using small‐scale mixing in a one‐step procedure with a fixed MWNTs content of 0.75 wt% and a blend composition of PC/ABS = 70/30 w/w. PC/SAN blends and nanocomposites as simpler model system for PC/ABS were also studied to reveal the role of the rubbery polybutadiene (PB) fraction. It is found that the tendency of MWNTs to localize within the PC component in compatibilized PC/ABS was lower than in compatibilized PC/SAN blends. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed the dual role of SAN‐MA as blend compatibilizer and also promoter of MWNTs migration towards PC, where SAN‐MA to MWNTs weight ratio varied between 1 and 4. At the compatibilizer/MWNTs weight ratio of 1, MWNTs localized in PC component of the blends whereas increasing the compatibilizer/MWNTs ratio to 4 led to migration of MWNTs toward SAN or ABS component. In DMA studies, loss modulus normalization of the nanocomposites revealed the coexistence of mobilized and immobilized regions within the nanocomposite structure, as a result of MWNTs and compatibilizer loading. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2696–2706, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

MWNT‐filled PC/ABS blends: Correlation of morphology with rheological and electrical response

A systematic study was done on morphological, electrical and rheological behavior of co‐continuous or dispersed‐type polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile‐styrene‐butadiene (ABS) blends, containing different amounts of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). The MWNTs gave substantial electrical conductivities to these nanocomposites at very low concentrations, owing to the effective melt processing method. Because of selective localization of MWNTs in the PC phase, along with double percolation phenomenon, the blend with co‐continuous morphology showed a lower electrical and rheological percolation threshold, higher melt viscosity and elasticity, as compared to the system with dispersed morphology. The morphology of both the blend systems was refined as a result of MWNTs incorporation but the morphology type remained unchanged. A typical role of compatibilizer in refining blend morphology was observed in both the systems. The electrical conductivity of the system filled with MWNTs in presence of compatibilizer, was lower than the systems filled with MWNTs only, which was attributed to role of compatibilizer in directing a part of MWNTs from PC matrix toward ABS phase. With increasing compatibilizer/MWNTs ratio, the influence of compatibilizer on morphology refinement and conductivity reduction was intensified. By comparing TEM micrograph of PC/SAN/MWNTs with that of PC/ABS/MWNTs, it was revealed that small portion of MWNTs was also located on polybutadiene rubber fraction of ABS. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 739‐748, 2013     

三元反应型增容剂PS-MAH-GMA在PA1010/ABS共混体系中的增容作用

以PS－MAH－GMA作为PA1010／ABS共混体系的增容剂，探讨了增容剂对共混物的力学性能的影响，结果发现：PS－MAH－GMA作为一种反应型增容剂，对于PA1010／ABS共混体系有较好的增容效果，可提高共混体系的力学性能。     

Mechanical and thermal behavior of poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene)/polycarbonate blends reinforced with potassium titanate whiskers

Poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS)/polycarbonate (PC) blends reinforced with potassium titanate (K₂Ti₆O₁₃) whiskers were prepared in a twin screw extruder followed by injection molding. The whiskers were pretreated with tetrabutyl orthotitanate prior to compounding. The tensile, dynamic mechanical, impact, morphology and thermal properties of the blends were studied. Tensile tests showed that the modulus of ABS/PC/K₂Ti₆O₁₃ blend increased markedly with increasing whisker content. However, the variation of the modulus of ABS/PC/K₂Ti₆O₁₃ blend with PC content followed a sigmoidal relation. In addition, the tensile strength of the blends containing 20 wt% PC tended to increase markedly with increasing whisker content. But the impact strength of the blends containing 20 wt% PC decreased rapidly with increasing whisker content. Dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) results indicated that the storage modulus of the blends increased markedly with increasing K₂Ti₆O₁₃ whisker content. Differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric measurements showed that potassium titanate whiskers tend to induce chemical decomposition of PC during blending of the PC/whisker blends. However, the incorporation of ABS into PC was beneficial to reduce the PC decomposition during compounding with the whiskers.