Preparation and characterization of poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐2‐ethylhexyl acrylate) grafting of vinyl chloride resin with good impact resistance

Crosslinked poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐2‐ethylhexyl acrylate) [P(BA–EHA)] latex was synthesized by seeded emulsion polymerization. P(BA–EHA)/poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composite latex was prepared using P(BA–EHA) latex as the seed. The effects of the amount of P(BA–EHA) on the latex particle diameters and mechanical properties of the materials are discussed. The grafting efficiency (GE) of P(BA–EHA)‐grafted vinyl chloride (VC) in the synthesized resin was investigated, and the GE increased with an increasing P(BA–EHA)/VC ratio. The morphology of P(BA–EHA)/PVC was characterized using TEM, SEM, and DMA. TEM indicated that the particles of the P(BA–EHA)/PVC composite latex have a clear core–shell structure. DMA illustrated that the compatibility between P(BA–EHA) and PVC was well improved. With an increasing P(BA–EHA) content, the loss peak in the low‐temperature range became stronger than that of pure PVC, and the maximum values of the loss peaks gradually shifted to higher temperature. SEM showed that the fractured surface of the composite sample exhibited better toughness of the material. The notched impact strength of the material with 4.2 wt % P(BA–EHA) was 11 times that of PVC. TEM showed that P(BA–EHA) was uniformly dispersed in the PVC matrix and that the interface between the two phases was indistinct. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 643–649, 2003     

Acrylate–vinylidene chloride copolymers derived from corresponding water‐borne latexes: Influence of acrylate units on their potential as heavy‐duty anticorrosive coating materials

A series of aqueous latexes with solid contents of 56%–59% were synthesized by binary emulsion copolymerization of vinylidene chloride (VDC) with an acrylate, namely methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), butyl acrylate (BA), hexyl acrylate (HA), or 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the acrylate units with short ester side‐chains, such as MA and EA, made the copolymers hard and the crystallization tendency of their PVDC segments was reduced. Hydrophobic acrylates with relatively long ester groups, such as HA and EHA, gave flexible copolymers, and favored the crystallization of their PVDC segments. BA endowed the copolymers with medium flexibility and crystallization tendency. As coating materials, the copolymers bearing MA and EA adhered poorly to the tinplate before or after 100 hr of salt‐spray corrosion, whereas those bearing BA, HA, or EHA showed good adhesion to tinplate when they had little or no crystallinity. After 100 hr of salt‐spray corrosion, only BA–VDC80, containing 80% VDC, retained both excellent adhesion to metal and excellent barrier performance. Further study demonstrated that BA–VDC80 could protect tinplate from rusting for at least 250 hr under harsh salt‐spray corrosion. Scanning electron microscopy, FTIR‐attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy and DSC were used to evaluate the corroded BA–VDC80 film. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40192.     

Impact Fracture and Failure Behavior of in‐situ Polymerized,Ethylene/Butyl Acrylate Rubber Toughened Polyamide‐12

The fracture and failure behavior of in‐situ polymerized polyamide‐12 (PA‐12) blends prepared by reactive extrusion were studied in instrumented high‐speed (v = 1.2 m/s) impact bending tests using the linear elastic fracture mechanics approach. PA‐12 was polymerized in presence (up to 9 wt.‐%) of ethylene/butyl acrylate copolymers (E/BA) of varying BA content and melt viscosity. From the tests performed on injection molded specimens at ambient temperature and –40°C, respectively, the fracture toughness (K_d) and initiation fracture energy (G_d,i) were derived. K_d was less sensitive to either testing temperature or E/BA type and content. G_d,i, on the other hand, went through a maximum at room temperature and monotonously increased at T = –40°C as a function of modifier content. E/BA with higher melt viscosity and lower polarity (lower BA content) performed better than the lower melt viscosity, higher polarity E/BA counterpart. The dominant failure modes and their change both with temperature and modifier content were studied by fractography and discussed.     

Rheological behavior and thermal properties of poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐2‐ethylhexyl acrylate)‐grafted vinyl chloride resin

The rheological behavior and thermal properties of a poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐2‐ethylhexyl acrylate) [P(BA‐EHA)]‐grafted vinyl chloride (VC) composite resin [P(BA‐EHA)/poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)] and its materials were investigated. The rheological behavior, thermal stability, and Vicat softening temperature (VST) of P(BA‐EHA)/PVC were measured with capillary rheometry, thermal analysis, and VST testing, respectively. The effects of the P(BA‐EHA) content and the polymerization temperature of grafted VC on the rheological behavior of the composite resin were examined. The weight loss of the composite resin and its extracted remainder via heating were analyzed. The influence of the content and crosslinking degree of P(BA‐EHA) and the polymerization temperature of the grafted VC on VST of the materials was determined. The results indicated the pseudoplastic‐flow nature of the composite resin. The flow property of the modified PVC resin was improved because of the incorporation of the acrylate polymer. The molecular weight of PVC greatly influenced the flow behavior and VST of the composite resin and its materials. The flowability of the composite resin markedly increased, and the VST of its materials decreased as the polymerization temperature of the grafted VC increased. The initial degradation temperature of the composite resin increased as the P(BA‐EHA) content increased. The VST of the samples was enhanced a little as the content of the crosslinking agent increased in P(BA‐EHA). As expected, the composite resin, with good impact resistance, had better heating stability and flowability than pure PVC, whereas the VST of the material decreased little with increasing P(BA‐EHA) content. Therefore, P(BA‐EHA)/PVC resins prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization have excellent potential for widespread applications. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 419–426, 2005     

Viscosity index. I. Evaluation of selected copolymers incorporating n-octadecyl acrylate as viscosity index improvers

Compositionally and structurally varied copolymers all containing n-octadecyl acrylate were prepared and evaluated as viscosity index improvers in a common base oil under conditions of low shear. Systems evaluated over a range of copolymer and blend composition were: copolymers of n-octadecyl acrylate with, respectively, methyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and n-dodecyl acrylate; and homopolymers of poly(n-octadecyl acrylate), prepared with a wide range of molecular weights. Properties were compared with those of blends of commercial methacrylate copolymers (acryloids) which had been freed of their entraining liquid. Mixtures of base oil with copolymers of n-octadecyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate, compared at fixed SAE viscosities, were the most efficient of all blends studied. They had the smallest rate of change of viscosity with temperature (as measured by their ASTM slopes), particularly in the composition region of incipient polymer precipitation at room temperature. Efficiency of certain of these composition was somewhat greater than that of the acryloids. A parameter that related concentration and weight-average molecular weight was used to correlate all of the data for ASTM slope and viscosity. Empirical relations developed by using this parameter enabled rheological data to be estimated that agree within 6% of experimental values for the case of thermodynamically good base oil solvents. These data demonstrated the relatively small contributions of copolymer structure to viscosity index improvement.     

The effect of crystallites on the rheological properties of microphase‐separated PVC‐PBA‐PVC triblock copolymers obtained by single electron transfer‐degenerative chain transfer living radical polymerization

Linear and nonlinear rheological properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)‐poly(n‐butyl acrylate)‐PVC triblocks of different compositions, obtained by single electron transfer‐degenerative chain transfer living radical polymerization, are investigated, focusing on the effect of crystallites. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis results show the existence of two glass transition temperatures, denoting microphase segregation. However, rather than phase separation, it is the presence of two types of crystals that melt at T_m1 = 127 ± 0.8°C and T_m2 = 185 ± 2°C, respectively, the factor that determines the rheological response of the copolymers. To the difference with PVC homopolymers, extrusion flow measurements at very low temperatures (T = 100°C) are possible with the copolymers. A change in the viscosity‐temperature dependence is observed below and above the lowest melting temperature. Notwithstanding the microphase separation and the presence of crystallites, experiments carried out in conditions similar to industrial processing reveal a remarkable viscosity reduction for our copolymers with respect to PVC obtained by single electron transfer‐degenerative chain transfer living radical polymerization, conventional PVC, and PVC/[diethyl‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate] compounds. Extrudates free of surface instabilities are obtained at low extrusion temperatures, such as 90–100°C. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:24–32, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Resultant synergism in the shear resistance of acrylic pressure‐sensitive adhesives prepared by emulsion polymerization of n‐butyl acrylate/2‐ethyl hexyl acrylate/acrylic acid

Acrylic emulsion pressure‐sensitive adhesives (PSAs) were synthesized by the copolymerization of n‐butyl acrylate with various levels of 2‐ethyl hexyl acrylate (2EHA) and a small constant amount of acrylic acid. The effect of varying the n‐butyl acrylate/2EHA monomer composition on the kinetic behavior of the polymerization and the characteristics of the copolymers prepared in a batch process were investigated. The results showed that increasing the amount of 2EHA in the monomer caused the polymerization rate and the glass‐transition temperature of the acrylic copolymers to decrease. Increasing the amount of 2EHA caused the gel content of the copolymers to decrease, reaching a minimum at 50 wt %; thereafter, the gel content increased at higher 2EHA levels. For the acrylic emulsion, the peel‐fracture energy of the PSAs decreased as the amount of 2EHA in the monomer was increased up to 50 wt %. At higher 2EHA levels, the peel‐fracture energy was relatively constant. Interestingly, a synergistic effect of increased shear resistance at 25 wt % 2EHA was observed without a significant trade‐off in terms of the peel and tack properties. This behavior was attributed to a good interconnection between the microgels and the free polymer chains inside the contacting particles in the adhesive film. Cooperation between various levels of 2EHA in the copolymer structure simultaneously changed the crosslink molecular weight (M_c) of the microgels and the entanglement molecular weight (M_e) of the free chains in the adhesive network morphology. The adhesive performance of the PSAs was found to be correlated with their M_c/M_e values as the 2EHA proportion was varied. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Toughening effect of comonomer on acrylic denture base resin prepared via suspension copolymerization

In this article, three copolymers used as denture base resins were prepared via suspension copolymerization using butyl acrylate (BA), butyl methacrylate (BMA), or methyl acrylate (MA) with methyl methacrylate (MMA), respectively. The homopolymers and copolymers were characterized by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR). The influence of the three comonomers on the mechanical property was investigated in details and the fracture surfaces of copolymer specimens were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Meanwhile, the T_g values of three copolymers were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results indicate that, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) copolymers with BA, BMA, or MA have been successfully prepared via suspension copolymerization. The presence of BA, BMA, or MA could improve the mechanical property especially the impact strength, the toughness of the materials was remarkably improved. The toughening effect of BMA monomer is most significant. When the content of BA is 2 wt %, the flexural strength improves by 51% and the impact strength improves by 81.3%. The T_g values of three copolymers all decrease. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Effects of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl acrylate) on the properties and processing behavior of poly(vinyl chloride)

Random copolymers of methyl methacrylate/n-butyl acrylate with a BA content of 0–50% and M?_v = 0.16–4.04 × 10⁶ were synthesized and evaluated as a processing aid (PA) for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Their effects on the processability and properties of PVC were investigated with respect to the composition, molecular weight, and the amount of the copolymer added. It was found that the fusion rate of PVC could be improved (i) by increasing the amount of the copolymer used, (ii) by increasing the butyl acrylate content in the copolymer, and (iii) by lowering the molecular weight of the copolymer. The effect of molecular weight, composition, and amount of copolymer on the ultimate mechanical properties of PVC was investigated. The presence of copolymer did not affect the impact strength. However, the tensile strength and elongation at break were improved, particularly at high temperature (125°C). It was also found that the “plate out” phenomenon of PVC could be significantly reduced in the presence of the processing aid.     

异戊二烯-丙烯酸酯类共聚弹性体的制备及其对PVC的增韧作用

研究了苯乙烯(ST)、甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)为壳层单体,丙烯酸丁酯(BA)、异戊二烯(IP)、丙烯酸(AA)为核单体,以乳液聚合工艺制备共聚乳液和弹性体树脂,制备了共聚树脂与PVC的共混材料。研究了乳化剂、引发剂、反应温度对弹性体特征黏度的影响,对共聚物结构进行了表征,并测试了共混材料的流变性能和机械性能。结果表明:乳化剂4.5%,引发剂0.5%时,其共聚物的特性黏度最高。当m(共聚弹性体)∶m(PVC)=10∶100时,冲击强度达到了48.67 kJ.m-2。     

Comparison of thermomechanical properties of statistical, gradient and block copolymers of isobornyl acrylate and n-butyl acrylate with various acrylate homopolymers

Well-defined statistical, gradient and block copolymers consisting of isobornyl acrylate (IBA) and n-butyl acrylate (nBA) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). To investigate structure-property correlation, copolymers were prepared with systematically varied molecular weights and compositions. Thermomechanical properties of synthesized materials were analyzed via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Glass transition temperature (T_g) of the resulting statistical poly(isobornyl acrylate-co-n-butyl acrylate) (P(IBA-co-nBA)) copolymers was tuned by changing the monomer feed. This way, it was possible to generate materials which can mimic thermal behavior of several homopolymers, such as poly(t-butyl acrylate) (PtBA), poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) and poly(n-propyl acrylate) (PPA). Although statistical copolymers had the same thermal properties as their homopolymer equivalents, DMA measurements revealed that they are much softer materials. While statistical copolymers showed a single T_g, block copolymers showed two T_gs and DSC thermogram for the gradient copolymer indicated a single, but very broad, glass transition. The mechanical properties of block and gradient copolymers were compared to the statistical copolymers with the same IBA/nBA composition.     

Study on Properties of PVC Blended with Emulsion Copolymer of N-p-tolylmaleimide and Methyl Methacrylate

Copolymers of N-p-tolylmaleimide (NPTMI) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were synthesized by semi-batch emulsion polymerization. The thermal properties of copolymers and poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) blended with copolymers had been investigated by thermogravimotric analysis (TGA), torsional braid analysis (TBA) and Vicat softening temperature tester. The results show that the glass transition temperature (T _g) and Vicat softening temperature (T _Vicat) of copolymers increase with increasing NPTMI feed content. The initial decomposition temperature (T _ini) and the temperature where the residual weight reached 50% (T ₅₀) also increase with increasing NPTMI feed content. The T _g and T _Vicat of the blends increase with increasing copolymer feed content. The mechanical properties and rheological behavior were also determined. The results show that the tensile strength of the blendes increase with increasing copolymer feed content while the impact strength keep at the same level. The reheological result illustrated that the blends in melt showed rheological behavior similar to that of pseudoplastic liquid. The apparent viscosity of blends in melt increase with increasing copolymer feed content. The compatibility of the blend system was also investigated by TBA and scanning electro micrograph (SEM).     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐ethylhexyl acrylate)/ poly(vinyl chloride)[P(BA‐EHA)/PVC] novel core‐shell modifier and its impact modification for a poly(vinyl chloride)‐based blend

Synthesis of poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐ethylhexyl acrylate)‐core/poly(vinyl chloride)‐shell [P(BA‐EHA)/PVC] used as a modifying agent of PVC via semicontinuous seeded emulsion copolymerization is reported here. Diameter distributions and morphology of the composite latex particles were characterized with the aid of particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The grafting efficiency (GE) and grafting ratio (GR) of vinyl chloride (VC) grafted onto the P(BA‐EHA) with varying content of crosslinking agent and core‐shell ratios were investigated. TEM studies indicated that the P(BA‐EHA)/PVC latex particles have core‐shell structure, and the P(BA‐EHA) rubbery particles in blending materials were uniformly dispersed in PVC matrix. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results revealed that the compatibility between the P(BA‐EHA) and the PVC matrix was significantly improved due to the presence of the P(BA‐EHA)‐grafted‐VC copolymer. The notched impact strength of the blending material with 3 wt% of rubber content was seven times that of the PVC. Linear regressions of mechanical properties as loading of the modifier were made. The resulting data of notched impact strength and elongation at break for the blending materials deviated significantly from regression lines within 3–4.5 wt% of the P(BA‐EHA) content. The PVC blends modified by the modifier exhibited good toughness and easy processability. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Studies of crosslinked styrene–alkyl acrylate copolymers for oil absorbency application. I. Synthesis and characterization

The prepolymers for a novel oil absorbent were synthesized by copolymerizing styrene with 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), lauryl acrylate (LA), lauryl methacrylate (LMA), and stearyl acrylate (SA). Suspension polymerization was carried out using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator with a varying monomer feed ratio, and the copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, DSC, and a solubility test. The copolymers were random copolymers with a single phase, and their compositions were similar to those in the monomer feed. The T_g of the copolymer could be controlled by varying the styrene/acrylate ratio. Acrylates introduced the crosslinking to linear polymers as a side reaction. Crosslinked copolymers were synthesized by adding divinylbenzene (DVB) as a crosslinking agent. At a low degree of crosslinking (0.5 wt % DVB), the T_g of the crosslinked copolymers was lower than or similar to that of the uncrosslinked ones. At a high degree of crosslinking, the T_g increased with increasing crosslinking density. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 903–913, 2000     

Synthesis and characterization of homopolymer of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and its copolymers with acrylamide,acrylonitrile, and methyl methacrylate

A homopolymer of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) was synthesized by a free-radical solution polymerization technique. Copolymers of EHA with acrylonitrile (AN), acrylamide (AA), and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in various ratios were also synthesized by the same pro-cedure. These were characterized by PNMR, ¹³C-NMR, FTIR, GPC, and viscosity mea-surements. The reactivity ratios of various monomers were determined. The viscosity mea-surements were carried out in four different solvents: ethyl acetate (EA), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene (TL), and tetrahydrofuran (THF). The studies were done at three different temperatures of 30,35 and 40°C. The activation parameters of the viscous flow were computed for different systems. The intrinsic viscosity of the copolymers increased with temperature in MEK and EA. This trend showed reversal for the other two solvents. The results are discussed in detail. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Morphologies and dynamic mechanical properties of core‐shell emulsifier‐free latexes and their copolymers for P(BA/MMA)/P(MMA/BA) and P(BA/MMA)/PSt systems in the presence of AHPS

Different poly(methyl methacrylate/n‐butyl acrylate)/poly(n‐butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate) [P(BA/MMA)/P(MMA/BA)] and poly(n‐butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate)/polystyrene [P(BA/MMA)/PSt] core‐shell structured latexes were prepared by emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization in the presence of hydrophilic monomer 3‐allyloxy‐2‐hydroxyl‐propanesulfonic salt (AHPS). The particle morphologies of the final latexes and dynamic mechanical properties of the copolymers from final latexes were investigated in detail. With the addition of AHPS, a latex of stable and high‐solid content (60 wt %) was prepared. The diameters of the latex particles are ～0.26 μm for the P(BA/MMA)/P(MMA/BA) system and 0.22–0.24 μm for the P(BA/MMA)/PSt system. All copolymers from the final latexes are two‐phase structure polymers, shown as two glass transition temperatures (T_gs) on dynamic mechanical analysis spectra. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3078–3084, 2002     

Mechanism of the copolymerization of styrene with methyl,ethyl, and n-butyl acrylates in the presence of zinc chloride

The complexes of methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA) and n-butyl acrylate (BA) with zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) were prepared at 300 K and found to be polar in nature. The viscosity and density of the complexes increased while the tendency to form a binary complex decreased with increase in size of the alkyl substituents of the acrylate monomers. The copolymerization of MA and BA with styrene (Sty) followed a cross-propagation mechanism, whereas the copolymerization of EA with Sty followed a radical-complex mechanism in the presence of their complexes with ZnCl₂.     

Melt viscosity of acrylic copolymers

The melt flow behavior of methyl methacrylate (MMA) copolymerized with methyl acrylate (MA) was measured and analyzed in terms of the molecular structure of the copolymers. Measurement was done by using a capillary rheometer in the shear rate range from 6 × 10⁰ to 3 × 10³ s^?1 and in temperatures from 160°C to 280°C. The Newtonian flow pattern appeared in lower shear rate and higher temperature regions. However, with increasing shear rate at lower temperature, viscosity decreased to a constant slope on a logarithmic scale. The melt fracture arose at the critical shearing stress point S_c of 6 × 10⁶ dyn/cm². A die swell also appeared in the shear rate range larger than 1 × 10⁶ dyn/cm², and its maximum value was two times larger than that of the capillary diameter. The decrease in viscosity with increasing shear rate is explained in terms of the apparent energy of activation in flow E. E also decreases with increasing shear rate. The exponential relation of E to η is maintained in the higher shear rate. The lowering of viscosity in lower shear rate, however, is attributed to not only the change in E but also the change in the volume of flow unit. The melt viscosity increases in inverse proportion to the MA content in the copolymers which form more flexible chains. Syndiotactic form of MMA has increased viscosity, caused by the rigidifying of segmented chains, rather than the strengthening of intermolecular interaction.     

Modification of polyvinyl chloride-vinyl acetate latex by seed emulsion polymerization of acrylic monomers

Fundamental studies were carried out to modify the thermal properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based latices. General features of composite PVC-vinyl acetate (VAc) copolymer latices synthesized from the seed emulsion polymerization of acrylic monomers are reported, in particular, the observation of particle morphology and the measurements of minimum film formation temperature (MFT) and DSC spectra. Acrylic monomers used as modifiers were methyl methacrylate (MMA), n-butyl methacrylate (BMA), methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), n-butyl acrylate (nBA), and MMA-nBA 75:25,50:50 and 25:75 wt%. Styrene whose polymer is incompatible with PVC-VAc was used as a counterpart of compatible PMMA. Compatibility between seed and modifier polymer and the mode of operation, either batch (flooded and pre-swollen) or semi-batch (starved and no swelling), induced morphology differences, and consequently variations of thermal properties.     

Effect of high molecular weight acrylic copolymers on the viscoelastic properties of engineering resins

In this work, the viscoelastic properties of acrylic‐based copolymer blends with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polycarbonate were investigated in the molten and solid states. High molecular weight copolymers of methyl methacrylate with butyl acrylate (MMA‐co‐BA) having varying molecular weight and composition were used to enhance the rheological properties in shear and extension. Blends containing up to 15 wt% of copolymer were prepared at 200°C and 150 rpm by using a DSM micro‐compounder. The samples were characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and rheology. The rheological properties were determined by using small amplitude oscillatory measurements (SAOM) in shear and a Rheotens? device for melt strength determination. For PMMA, the effects of high molecular weight PMMA copolymer on the matrix were related to the molecular weight, the tacticity of the copolymer, and the individual components. The rheological properties in shear showed enhanced storage and loss moduli at low frequency, while no change was observed at high frequency. In addition, extensional viscosity measurements made by using the filament stretching technique showed a significant increase in melt strength compared to that of the base PMMA with the blend containing the highest molecular weight copolymer showing the maximum force and a reduced drawdown ratio. For polycarbonate, its blends with acrylic copolymer were found to be immiscible. Similar enhancement in the moduli at low frequencies was observed, but a significant increase in the viscosity was obtained as well, resulting from the response of the two‐phase system. This change in the rheological properties was further increased at 15 wt% loading. Owing to the formation of a phase‐separated morphology, the melt strength was found to increase only slightly. J. VINYL. ADDIT. TECHNOL., 12:143–150, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers