Reactive Compatibilization in Brominated Poly(isobutylene-co-p-methylstyrene) and Polyamide Blends

The blending of BIMSM and PA results in interfacial reactions between pendant benzylic bromines of BIMSM and terminal amines and backbone amides of PA as determined by FT-IR. The emulsification study at 40 (IMSM/BIMSM)/60 PA composition demonstrates a rapid initial drop in elastomer phase size at lower BIMSM concentrations due to inhibited coalescence effects. However, at higher BIMSM concentrations, unlike classical compatibilized systems,. a plateau-value phase size is never attained Instead, a linear dependence of the elastomer particle size on BIMSM concentration is found. Particle sizes as small as 80-100 nm are obtained. A 3D PA transcrystalline network bridging BIMSM dispersions to PA matrix is obtained after dynamic vulcanization.