Impact properties of dynamically vulcanized nylon/styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer/nitrile rubber blends

Impact properties of dynamically vulcanized blends of nylon, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer and nitrile rubber (NBR) with PF compound were examined. The effects of nylon/SAN ratio, temperature and PF content on the impact behavior of the blends is discussed. It is clear that the dynamically vulcanized nylon/SAN/NBR blends with nylon/SAN ratio of 2:1 and more than 8 phr PF content can attain good impact properties, even super-toughness, at ambient temperature. Charpy impact force-time graphs and fracture surface morphology show that the nylon/SAN/NBR (50/25/25) blends apparently show brittle-to-ductile transition when the PF content is more than 8 phr. SEM was used for investigation of the effect of PF as curing agent on the dispersed-phase particle size, particle size distribution and phase morphology. It was obvious that the dispersed-phase particle size decreases with increase of the PF content. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.