The study of surface segregation and the formation of gradient domain structure at the blend of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(dimethyl siloxane) graft copolymers and acrylate adhesive copolymers

The effect of siloxane chain length on surface segregation of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐grafted poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PMMA‐g‐PDMS)/poly(2‐ethylhexyl acrylate‐co‐acrylic acid‐co‐vinyl acetate) [P(2EHA‐AA‐VAc)] blends was investigated. The blends of PMMA‐g‐PDMS with P(2EHA‐AA‐VAc) showed surface segregations of PDMS components. The surface enrichments of PDMS in the blends depended significantly on the PDMS chain length. Also, this blend showed the gradient domain structure. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 375–380, 2003     

Thermoplastic elastomers from rubber and recycled polyethylene: chemical reactions at interphases for property enhancement

Recycled low density polyethylene (R‐LDPE) has been reactively compatibilized with butadiene rubber (BR) by using small additions of reactive polyethylene copolymers and reactive BRs to produce thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). TPEs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), rheology measurements, wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) and mechanical testing. WAXS results show that the presence of BR and reactive modifiers does not completely prevent the crystallization of R‐LDPE during the TPE formation. Depression of the melting point has been found in all cases. Also in all cases, compatibility is provided by formation of interfacial layers. The best mechanical characteristics are obtained for R‐LDPE + BR blends compatibilized with poly(ethylene‐co‐acrylic acid) (PE‐co‐AA) and polybutadiene terminated with isocyanate groups (PB‐NCO) for PB‐NCO = 7.5 wt% per PB and COOH/NCO ratio = 1/1. The stress at break and elongation at break are respectively improved by 31 % and 63 %. The PB‐NCO modifier participates in co‐vulcanization with BR in the rubber phase and reacts at the interface with the PE‐co‐AA dissolved in the polyolefin phase. As a result, the amorphous phase of R‐LDPE is dissolved by the rubber phase and a morphology with dual phase continuity is formed, assuring an improvement of mechanical properties of TPEs. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polypropylene/polypropylene‐grafted acrylic acid copolymer/ethylene–Acrylic acid copolymer ternary blends for hydrophilic polypropylene

Ternary blends of polypropylene (PP), a polypropylene‐grafted acrylic acid copolymer (PP‐g‐AA), and an ethylene–acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) were prepared by melt blending. The surfaces of films with different contents of these three components were characterized with contact‐angle measurements. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the microstructure, melting and crystalline behavior, and thermal stability of the blends. The contact angles of the PP/PP‐g‐AA blends decreased monotonically with increasing PP‐g‐AA content. With the incorporation of EAA, the contact angles of the PP/PP‐g‐AA/EAA ternary blends decreased with increasing EAA content. When the concentration of EAA was higher than 15 wt %, the contact angles of the ternary blends began to increase. Scanning electron microscopy observations confirmed that PP‐g‐AA acted as a compatibilizer and improved the compatibility between PP and EAA in the ternary blends. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis suggested that acrylic acid moieties could act as nucleating agents for PP in the polymer blends. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetry confirmed the optimal blend ratio for the PP/PP‐g‐AA/EAA ternary blends was 70/15/15. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 436–442, 2006     

Synthesis and properties of carboxymethyl cellulose‐graft‐poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide) as a novel cellulose‐based superabsorbent

A new cellulose‐based superabsorbent polymer, carboxymethyl cellulose‐graft‐poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide), was prepared by the free‐radical grafting solution polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) monomers onto carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in the presence of N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker with a redox couple of potassium persulfate and sodium metabisulfite as an initiator. The influences of reaction variables such as the initiator content, crosslinker content, bath temperature, molar ratio of AA to AM, and weight ratio of the monomers to CMC on the water absorbency of the carboxymethylcellulose‐graft‐poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide) copolymer were investigated. The copolymer's structures were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The optimum reaction conditions were obtained as follows: the bath temperature was 50°C; the molar ratio of AA to AM was 3 : 1; the mass ratio of the monomers to CMC was 4 : 1; and the weight percentages of the crosslinker and initiator with respect to the monomers were 0.75 and 1%, respectively. The maximum water absorbency of the optimized product was 920 g/g for distilled water and 85 g/g for a 0.9 wt % aqueous NaCl solution. In addition, the superabsorbent possessed good water retention and salt resistance. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1382–1388, 2007     

Syntheses of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(dimethyl siloxane) graft copolymers and their surface enrichment of their blend with acrylate adhesive copolymers

Several types of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(dimethyl siloxane) graft copolymers (PMMA‐g‐PDMS) were synthesized using macromonomer technology. Three types of PMMA‐g‐PDMS with different PDMS chain length were obtained. The effect of siloxane chain length on surface segregation of PMMA‐g‐PDMS/poly(2‐ethylhexyl acrylate‐co‐acrylic acid‐co‐vinyl acetate)[P(2EHA‐AA‐VAc)] blends was investigated. The blends of PMMA‐g‐PDMS with P(2EHA‐AA‐VAc) showed surface segregations of PDMS components. The surface enrichments of PDMS in the blends depended on the PDMS chain length, significantly. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 1736–1740, 2002     

Study on the properties of polyethylene–octene elastomer/wood flour blends

In the present study, the properties of metallocene polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) and wood flour (WF) blends were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), an Instron mechanical tester, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the mechanical properties of POE were obviously lowered, due to the poor compatibility between the two phases, when it was blended with WFs. A fine dispersion and homogeneity of WF in the polymer matrix could be obtained when acrylic acid‐grafted POE (POE‐g‐AA) was used to replace POE for manufacture of the blends. This better dispersion is due to the formation of branched and crosslinked macromolecules since the POE‐g‐AA copolymer had carboxyl groups to react with the hydroxyls. This is reflected in the mechanical and thermal properties of the blends. In comparison with a pure POE/WF blend, the increase in tensile strength at break was remarkable for the POE‐g‐AA/WF blend. The POE‐g‐AA/WF blends are more easily processed than are the POE/WF blends, since the former had a lower melt viscosity than that of the latter. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1919–1924, 2003     

A complex based on imidazole ionic liquid and copolymer of acrylamide and phenoxyacetamide modification for clay stabilizer

A complex system (AM/AA/APO‐EMIN) was obtained by poly (acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid‐co‐N‐allyl‐2‐phenoxyacetamide) (AM/AA/APO) combining 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM] [BF₄]) for clay stabilizer by using acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA) and N‐allyl‐2‐phenoxyacetamide (APO), N‐methylimidazole, bromoethane, and sodium fluoroborate as raw materials. The complex solution exhibited excellent anti‐swelling rate (up to 94.5% at 10,000 mg/L), satisfying aging resistance (viscosity retention rate 84.2% after 15 days), and marked shear thinning behavior (viscosity retention rate 7.5% under 600 s^?1). From scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, a clear network structure appeared in AM/AA/APO‐EMIM solution. Compared with an existing poly (acrylamide‐co‐diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) clay stabilizer (HY‐201S), AM/AA/APO‐EMIN was less content and more effective to reduce the d‐spacing of sodium montmorillonite (Na‐MMT) from 19.1 Å to 15.7 Å. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41536.     

Synthesis,characterization and swelling behaviors of hydroxyethyl cellulose‐g‐poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite superabsorbent composite

In this work, a series of novel hydroxyethyl cellulose‐ g‐poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite (HEC‐g‐PAA/APT) superabsorbent composites were prepared through the graft polymerization of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA), and attapulgite (APT) in aqueous solution, and the composites were characterized by means of Fourier‐transform spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electronmicroscopy. The effects of polymerization variables including concentrations of the initiator and crosslinker and APT content on water absorbency were studied, and the swelling properties in various pH solutions as well as the swelling kinetics in various saline solutions were also systematically evaluated. Results showed that the introduction of 5 wt% APT into HEC‐g‐PAA polymeric network could improve both water absorbency and water absorption rate of the superabsorbent composites. In addition, the superabsorbent composites retained high water absorbency over a wide pH range of 4–10, and the swelling kinetics of the superabsorbent composites in CaCl₂ and FeCl₃ solutions exhibited a remarkable overshooting phenomenon. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The effect of addition of poly(propylene‐g‐acrylic acid) on the morphology of poly(vinyl methylether) and isotactic polypropylene blend

The interfacial adhesion of blend of isotactic polypropylene/poly(vinyl methylether) (i‐PP/PVME) has been improved by the addition of poly(propylene‐g‐acrylic acid) (PP‐g‐AA) as a compatibilizing agent. The phase morphologies of the blends are investigated by optical microscopy (OM) and lateral force microscopy (LFM). The i‐PP/PVME (80/20) blend with no addition of PP‐g‐AA from extrusion process shows a coarse morphology with the dispersed domain size as large as several micrometers; After the addition of 2.5% PP‐g‐AA in the blends, the dispersed PVME domain size decreases greatly. The addition of 5% PP‐g‐AA results in a homogeneous morphology. The blending of PP‐g‐AA with PVME reduces the crystallization temperature of PP‐g‐AA, which is different from that of blending i‐PP with PVME. The increase of the interfacial adhesion is attributed to the specific intermolecular interaction between the acrylic acid group of PP‐g‐AA and the ether group of PVME. The specific interaction is studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 4098–4103, 2006     

Effect of ethylene ionomers on the properties of crosslinked polyethylene

Most premature failure of underground crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) cables in service, a matter of great concern, is due to aging induced by water treeing. To improve the water‐tree resistance, sodium‐neutralized poly (ethylene‐co‐acrylic acid) (EAA–Na) ionomers were blended with XLPE; the EAA–Na ionomers were prepared through the neutralization of sodium hydroxide and poly(ethylene‐co‐acrylic acid). A series of XLPE/EAA–Na ionomer blends were investigated through the measurement of the water absorption ratio, water treeing, and mechanical and dielectric testing; the results strongly suggested that EAA–Na ionomers could improve the water‐tree resistance of XLPE, and the XLPE/EAA–Na blends retained excellent mechanical properties and dielectric properties. Moreover, through the characterization of XLPE/EAA–Na blends with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy, it was found that the neutralization reaction could be achieved completely; the XLPE and EAA–Na ionomers were partially compatible, so the EAA–Na ionomers could be dispersed well in the matrix with the process examined in this study. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3483–3490, 2007     

Influence of a compatibilizer on the properties of polyethylene–octene elastomer/starch blends

The effect of a compatibilizer on the properties of corn starch‐reinforced metallocene polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) blends was studied. The compatibility between POE and starch was improved markedly with an acrylic acid‐grafted POE (POE‐g‐AA) copolymer as a compatibilizer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the blends produced. The size of the starch phase increased with an increasing content of starch for noncompatibilized and compatibilized blends. The POE/starch blends compatibilized with the POE‐g‐AA copolymer lowered the size of the starch phase and had a fine dispersion and homogeneity of starch in the POE matrix. This better dispersion was due to the formation of branched and crosslinked macromolecules because the POE‐g‐AA copolymer had anhydride groups to react with the hydroxyls. This was reflected in the mechanical properties of the blends, especially the tensile strength at break. In a comparison with pure POE, the decrease in the tensile strength was slight for compatibilized blends containing up to 40 wt % starch. The POE‐g‐AA copolymer was an effective compatibilizer because only a small amount was required to improve the mechanical properties of POE/starch blends. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 1792–1798, 2002     

Thermal properties of poly(maleic anhydride‐alt‐acrylic acid) in the presence of certain metal chlorides

Polychelates were synthesized by the addition of aqueous solutions of copper(II), cadmium(II), and nickel(II) chlorides to aqueous solutions of poly(maleic anhydride‐alt‐acrylic acid) [poly(MA‐alt‐AA)] in different pH media. The thermal properties of poly(MA‐alt‐AA) and its metal complexes were investigated with thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The polychelates showed higher thermal stability than poly(MA‐alt‐AA). The thermogravimetry of the polymer–metal complexes revealed variations of the thermal stability by complexation with metal ions. The relative thermal stabilities of the systems under investigation were as follows: poly(MA‐alt‐AA)–Cd(II) > poly(MA‐alt‐AA)–Cu(II) > poly(MA‐alt‐AA)–Ni(II) > poly(MA‐alt‐AA). The effects of pH on the complexation and gravimetric analysis of the polychelates were also studied. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3926–3930, 2006     

Effect of the MMA content on the emulsion polymerization process and adhesive properties of poly(BA‐co‐MMA‐co‐AA) latexes

In the past work, the shear resistance of pure poly(n‐butyl acrylate) was low, even incorporation of inorganic filler, silica in the composition. It is well‐known that the copolymerization of n‐butyl acrylate (BA) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) will increase the glass transition temperature, and enhance the shear resistance of acrylic polymers. In the current work, the preparation of a series of acrylic water‐borne pressure‐sensitive adhesives (PSAs) with the controlled composition and structure for the copolymerization of BA and acrylic acid (AA) with different MMA contents, poly(BA‐co‐MMA‐co‐AA) was reported and its effects on adhesive properties of the latices were investigated. The latices of poly(BA‐co‐MMA‐co‐AA) were prepared at a solid content of 50% by two‐stage sequential emulsion polymerization, and this process consisted of a batch seed stage giving a particle diameter of 111 nm, which was then grown by the semicontinuous addition of monomers to final diameter of 303 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to monitor the particle diameters and proved that no new nucleation occurred during the growth stage. Copolymerization of BA with MMA raised the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the soft acrylic polymers, and had the effect of improving shear resistance, while the loop tack and peel adhesion kept relatively high. The relationship between pressure‐sensitive properties and molecular parameters, such as gel content and molecular weight, was evaluated. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Poly(ethylene‐graft‐ethylene oxide) (PE‐PEO) and poly(ethylene‐co‐acrylic acid) (PEAA) as compatibilizers in blends of LDPE and polyamide‐6

In a blend of two immiscible polymers a controlled morphology can be obtained by adding a block or graft copolymer as compatibilizer. In the present work blends of low‐density polyethylene (PE) and polyamide‐6 (PA‐6) were prepared by melt mixing the polymers in a co‐rotating, intermeshing twin‐screw extruder. Poly(ethylene‐graft‐polyethylene oxide) (PE‐PEO), synthesized from poly(ethylene‐co‐acrylic acid) (PEAA) (backbone) and poly(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether (MPEO) (grafts), was added as compatibilizer. As a comparison, the unmodified backbone polymer, PEAA, was used. The morphology of the blends was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Melting and crystallization behavior of the blends was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical properties by tensile testing. The compatibilizing mechanisms were different for the two copolymers, and generated two different blend morphologies. Addition of PE‐PEO gave a material with small, well‐dispersed PA‐spheres having good adhesion to the PE matrix, whereas PEAA generated a morphology characterized by small PA‐spheres agglomerated to larger structures. Both compatibilized PE/PA blends had much improved mechanical properties compared with the uncompatibilized blend, with elongation at break (ε_b) increasing up to 200%. Addition of compatibilizer to the PE/PA blends stabilized the morphology towards coalescence and significantly reduced the size of the dispersed phase domains, from an average diameter of 20 μm in the unmodified PE/PA blend to approximately 1 μm in the compatibilized blends. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 2416–2424, 2000     

In situ preparation and properties of high‐solid‐content and low‐viscosity poly(methyl methacrylate/n‐butyl acrylate/acrylic acid)/poly(styrene/acrylic acid) composite latexes

With monodispersed poly(methyl methacrylate/n‐butyl acrylate/acrylic acid) [P(MMA/BA/AA)] seeded latex with a particle size of 485 nm and a solid content of 50 wt % as a medium, a series of stable P(MMA/BA/AA)/poly(styrene/acrylic acid) composite latexes with a high solid content (70 wt %) and low viscosities (500–1000 mPa · s when the shear rate was 21 s^?1) was prepared in situ via simple two‐step semicontinuous monomer adding technology. The coagulum ratio of polymerization was about 0.05 wt %. The particle size distribution of such latexes was bimodal, in which the large particle was about 589 nm and the small one was about 80 nm. The latexes combined good mechanical properties with good film‐forming properties. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the corresponding latex film had a two‐phase structure. The morphology of the latex film was characterized with atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1815–1825, 2007     

Effect of the compatibilization of linear low‐density polyethylene‐g‐acrylic acid on the morphology and mechanical properties of poly(butylene terephthalate)/linear low‐density polyethylene blends

A poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) alloy was prepared with a reactive extrusion method. For improved compatibility of the blending system, LLDPE grafted with acrylic acid (LLDPE‐g‐AA) by radiation was adopted in place of plain LLDPE. The toughness and extensibility of the PBT/LLDPE‐g‐AA blends, as characterized by the impact strengths and elongations at break, were much improved in comparison with the toughness and extensibility of the PBT/LLDPE blends at the same compositions. However, there was not much difference in their tensile (or flexural) strengths and moduli. Scanning electron microscopy photographs showed that the domains of PBT/LLDPE‐g‐AA were much smaller and their dispersions were more homogeneous than the domains and dispersions of the PBT/LLDPE blends. Compared with the related values of the PBT/LLDPE blends, the contents and melting temperatures of the usual spherulites of PBT in PBT/LLDPE‐g‐AA decreased. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 1059–1066, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10399     

Assessing biodegradability and mechanical,thermal, and morphological properties of an acrylic acid‐modified poly(3‐hydroxybutyric acid)/wood flours biocomposite

A poly(3‐hydroxybutyric acid) and wood flours (PHB/wood flours) composite and an acrylic acid‐grafted PHB/wood flours composite were characterized and their properties were examined and compared. Mechanical properties of PHB became significantly worse when it was blended with wood flours, due to the poor compatibility between the two phases. Much better dispersion and homogeneity of wood flours in the polymer matrix was obtained when PHB‐g‐acrylic acid (AA) was used in place of PHB in the composite. Improved mechanical and thermal properties of the PHB‐g‐AA/wood flours composite, notably an increase in tensile strength at breakpoint, evidenced its superiority to the PHB/wood flours composite. Furthermore, PHB‐g‐AA/wood flours composites were more easily processed because of their lower melt viscosity. Under soil and enzymatic environments, weight loss data indicated that both composites were more biodegradable with higher wood flours content. A reduction in tensile strength at break after exposure to soil and enzymatic environments was also observed in both blends, especially at high wood flours content. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3565–3574, 2006     

Study on pH‐sensitive and thermosensitive polymer networks containing polyacetal segments

A series of pH‐sensitive and thermosensitive polymer networks were first obtained by copolymerization of telechelic poly(1,3‐dioxolane) (PDXL) with acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM), and N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), respectively. The copolymerization of PDXL diacrylate (PDXLDA) with AA, AM, or NIPAM is expected to lead to polymer networks in which homopolymeric segments of the monomer are connected by polyacetal segments. As a combination of these two parts, these polymer networks can have some interesting physical properties. For example, the copolymer networks of poly(AA‐b‐DXL) showed pH sensitivity, and both the copolymer networks of poly(AM‐b‐DXL) and poly(NIPAM‐b‐DXL) showed temperature sensitivity. Moreover, because of the low ceiling temperature of polyDXL, the networks containing polyacetal segments (PDXL) can degrade by treatment with a trace of appropriate cationic initiator. The polymer networks prepared were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and swelling data. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 3002–3006, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.2329     

Preparation and characterization of a methyl methacrylate/ethyl acrylate/acrylic acid terpolymer to improve the homogeneity of ethylene–propylene–diene monomer rubber/poly(vinyl chloride) blends

The emulsion terpolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl acrylate (EA), and acrylic acid (AA) was carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere at 70°C. The final terpolymer conversion was determined gravimetrically. The synthesized MMA–EA–AA terpolymer was characterized with ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and gel permeation chromatography. Glass‐transition temperatures of the MMA–EA–AA terpolymer were determined with a differential scanning calorimeter. Ethylene–propylene–diene monomer rubber (EPDM)/poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) blends were prepared with different blend ratios (10/90, 20/80, 30/70, 40/60, and 50/50) in the presence and absence of MMA–EA–AA as a compatibilizer. The morphology of those blends was examined with the aid of a scanning electron microscope. The scanning electron micrographs in the presence of the MMA–EA–AA terpolymer illustrated the disappearance of the macroscale phase separation of EPDM/PVC blends as a result of the incorporation of MMA–EA–AA into that blend, indicating an improvement of the homogeneity. The mechanical properties of the EPDM/PVC blend films and the dielectric properties of the melt blends were investigated. The swelling behavior of the cured blends in the brake fluid was also discussed. The results illustrated that the mechanical properties, the weight swelling values, and the dielectric constant values showed linear behavior versus the blend ratios after the incorporation of the terpolymer. However, those values showed deviations from linearity in the absence of the terpolymer. That, in turn, ensured the results obtained with the scanning electron microscope. The results reveal that the MMA–EA–AA terpolymer prepared can be used successfully to improve the homogeneity of EPDM/PVC blends used in hose and oil seal applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Preparation of a structured acrylic impact modifier and its application in toughening polyamide 6

A series of poly(n‐butyl acrylate)/poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐acrylic acid), i.e., poly(BA/MMA‐co‐AA), core‐shell structured modifiers with different contents of crosslinking agent allyl methacrylate and functional monomer were prepared, and its effects on mechanical properties of polyamide 6 (PA 6) blends were investigated. The modifiers were prepared at a solid content of 50 wt% by a seeded emulsion polymerization. Dynamic light scattering measurement showed that the particle grew without significant secondary nucleation occurring. The morphology was confirmed by means of transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the morphology of the fractured surfaces. The dynamic mechanical analysis measurements indicated that the appearance of two merged transition peaks and the magnitude of the loss peak of PA 6 matrix with the addition of PBMA core‐shell modifier in the PA 6/PBMA blends were responsible for the improvement of PA 6 toughness. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers