Approaches on the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene functionalization through maleic anhydride and dicumyl peroxide

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) functionalization is industrially important since it can wide the ABS application range. However, grafting of functional groups must be effective. This work aimed evaluating the effectiveness of ABS functionalization in an internal mixer, using maleic anhydride (MA) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as initiator, at 2.5% and 5.0%; and 0.3% and 0.5% contents respectively. Torque rheometry, melt flow rate (MFR), titration, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle, thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to collect the main parameters of produced compounds. For ABS with 5% MA and 0.5% DCP, an efficiency of 62% was reached with the degree of grafting 3.1% MA. FTIR spectra confirmed new band in ABS chain in 1780 cm⁻¹ due to the carbonyl group. Reduction in contact angle and thermal stability were verified, whereas MFR and torque rheometry suggested that viscosity decrease is most due to the molecular weight reduction. In general, MA grafted ABS presented proper functionalization with great potential for applications as reactive compatibilizer.