Assessing thermomechanical properties of a reactive maleic anhydride grafted styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene/thermoplastic polyurethane blend with temperature scanning stress relaxation method

The phenomenon of stress relaxation in thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) is common and influences the end-use properties of polymers. Temperature scanning stress relaxation (TSSR) method extends an advanced method to study the stress relaxation of TPEs at elevated temperatures. A reactive blend system based on maleic anhydride grafted styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene and thermoplastic polyurethane is explored for its relaxation behavior at temperature up to 200°C with TSSR meter. The relaxation spectrum revealed the transitions occurring in the blends as well as the extent of interfacial interaction present. Direct measurement of elasticity of the blends was obtained from the TSSR index (RI). Glass transition temperature of the samples was measured from dynamic mechanical analysis. The elastic nature of the blends was also pursued from the storage modulus values and results were in line with TSSR results. The density of crosslinks in the system was assessed with both TSSR and the conventional Flory-Rehner equation and a similar trend was obtained. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed the dispersed morphology of the blends.