IMPACT TOUGHENED BLENDS OF STYRENE-MALEIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER, POLYETHYLENE, AND ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE COPOLYMER

Impact-toughened, compatibilized binary blends of styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer/amine functionalized ethylene-propylene (amine-EP) polymer and ternary blends consisting of SMA/amine-EP/high density polyethylene (HDPE) are described. In both blends 0.02 to 4 mum range rubbery inclusions, which toughen the SMA matrix. are formed. SMA sub-inclusions exist in the amine-EP phase. In the ternary blend substantially all of the polyethylene is embedded in the EP phase. Compatibilization of the SMA and the commingled polyolefin phase is promoted by a graft copolymer formed by the reaction of amine groups on the EP with the maleic anhydride groups on the SMA. We describe the morphology, rheology, aging characteristics and impact properties of these blends. SMA modification by SMA-g-(amine-EP) polymers formed in situ in the melt, with HDPE, has not been previously reported.