| Abstract: | Rubber particle size is an important issue in toughening of engineering thermoplastics. Use of core-shell impact modifiers offers the advantage of a predetermined particle size; however, these particles must be appropriately dispersed in the matrix polymer to be effective for toughening. Recent work has shown that core-shell modifiers having a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shell can be dispersed in nylon 6 with the aid of certain styrene/maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers. These materials are miscible with PMMA and can also react with polyamides during melt processing. Enhanced interaction between the rubber and matrix phases as a result of the formation of in situ graft copolymers at the interface was suggested to contribute to the improved dispersion. However, rheological issues also influence the dispersion of core-shell modifier particles in the matrix. This article examines the influence of the matrix melt viscosity on the dispersion of the core-shell particles in the nylon 6 matrix and the resulting mechanical properties of the blends using four nylon 6 materials of different molecular weights. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
