Preparation and properties of TiO2‐filled poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene)/epoxy hybrid composites

Poly (acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene) (ABS) was used to modify diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A type of epoxy resin, and the modified epoxy resin was used as the matrix for making TiO₂ reinforced nanocomposites and were cured with diaminodiphenyl sulfone for superior mechanical and thermal properties. The hybrid nanocomposites were characterized by using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), universal testing machine (UTM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The bulk morphology was carefully analyzed by SEM and TEM and was supported by other techniques. DMA studies revealed that the DDS‐cured epoxy/ABS/TiO₂ hybrid composites systems have two T_gs corresponding to epoxy and ABS rich phases and have better load bearing capacity with the addition of TiO₂ particles. The addition of TiO₂ induces a significant increase in tensile properties, impact strength, and fracture toughness with respect to neat blend matrix. Tensile toughness reveals a twofold increase with the addition of 0.7 wt % TiO₂ filler in the blend matrix with respect to neat blend. SEM micrographs of fractured surfaces establish a synergetic effect of both ABS and TiO₂ components in the epoxy matrix. The phenomenon such us cavitation, crack path deflection, crack pinning, ductile tearing of the thermoplastic, and local plastic deformation of the matrix with some minor agglomerates of TiO₂ are observed. However, between these agglomerates, the particles are separated well and are distributed homogeneously within the polymer matrix. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013