Toughening modification of poly(vinyl chloride)/ α‐methylstyrene‐acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene copolymer blends via adding chlorinated polyethylene

In this study, poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC)/α‐methylstyrene‐acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene copolymer (AMS‐ABS) (70/30)/chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) ternary blends was prepared. With the addition of CPE, it did not exert a negative influence in both the glass transition temperature and heat distortion temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that addition of CPE did not play a negative role in the thermal stability. With regard to mechanical properties, high toughness was observed combined with the decrease in tensile strength and flexural strength. With the addition of 15 phr CPE, the impact strength increased by about 21.0 times and 8.5 times in comparison with pure PVC and PVC/AMS‐ABS (70/30) blends, respectively. The morphology correlated well with the impact strength. It was also suggested from the morphology that shear yielding was the major toughening mechanisms for the ternary blends. And there existed a change in the fibril structures that are observed in scanning electron microphotographs. Our present study shows that combination of AMS‐ABS and CPE improves the toughness without sacrificing the heat resistance, and the value of notched impact strength can be enhanced to the same level of super‐tough nylon. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:378–385, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers