Properties of poly(oxymethylene)/modified poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-1-butene)-b-styrene] triblock copolymer blends

Poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-1-butene)-b-styrene] triblock copolymer (SEBS) was functionalized with 0 to 3.0 phr maleic anhydride and the amount of dicumyl peroxide used as an initiator was varied from 0 to 0.3 phr. The gel content of the modified SEBS was determined by xylene extraction and poly(oxymethylene) was blended with the modified SEBS. The impact, tensile, flexural strength and morphologies of the blends were investigated. The Izod impact strength of poly(oxymethylene) was improved through its blending with modified SEBS. However, the Izod impact strength of poly(oxymethylene)/modified SEBS blend decreased above 5% modified SEBS content. Regarding the effect of dicumyl peroxide content on the Izod impact strength, the blend had a maximum Izod impact strength when poly(oxymethylene) was blended with modified SEBS prepared with 0.1 phr dicumyl peroxide. It was also confirmed by SEM micrographs that the average particle size of modified SEBS in poly(oxymethylene)/modified SEBS blends was smaller than that of SEBS in poly(oxymethylene)/SEBS blends.