Studies on blend of Polyphenylene ethers with styrenic resins

Abstract

Polyphenylene ether (PPE) has high dimensional stability, superior fire and moisture newlineresistance, low thermal expansion coefficient and notch insensitivity. Review of open newlineliterature suggested that blends PPE/Polystyrene (PS) and PPE/Nylon-6 are researched for newlineimproving miscibility and hence mechanical and thermal properties of PPE to widen its newlineapplications. Main disadvantages of PPE are poor processability and oxidative degradation. newlinePPE is usually plasticised by blending with PS of lower glass transition temperature enabling newlineprocessing of PPE below its thermal degradation temperature of 320 0C. Solvent resistance of newlinePPE/PS blends are limited by the amorphous nature of the polymers. Also, thermal resistance newlineof the blend is limited by its glass transition temperature. These differences are overcome in newlinePPE/Nylon-6 with maleic anhydride as compatibiliser. These blends show more continuous newlineNylon-6 phase with poorly dispersed PPE resulting in poor thermo mechanical properties. newlineThis research was aimed at investigating unique PPE/PS/Nylon-6 ternary blends to enhance newlinemiscibility, mechanical properties and chemical resistance of PPE. Nylon-6 was selected for newlineits toughening effect and PS promotes miscibility of PPE with Nylon-6. Effects of maleic newlineanhydride (MA) and screw speed on miscibility and properties of PPE/PS/Nylon-6 blends newlinewere studied. The blends were characterized for tensile, flexural and impact properties. Glass newlinetransition temperature, melting temperature decomposition temperature, Volatile Organic newlineCompound (VOC) and heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the blends were investigated for newlinemiscibility, density and thermal stability. Morphology of the blends was studied using newlinescanning electron microscopic (SEM) newline