Toughening effect of PNBR on ASA/SAN binary blends

In this work, (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylic terpolymer)/(styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer)/(powder nitrile butadiene rubber) ternary blends with different compositions were prepared by melt blending. Differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectra were used to analyze the glass transition behavior and interactions among components of the blends, while scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microstructure. Furthermore, mechanical properties, heat resistance, and melt flow rate of the blends were tested. The results showed that addition of powder nitrile butadiene rubber can enhance toughness of the blends on a large scale, and the blend system seems to be miscible according scanning electron microscopy images.