Effects of ionic group type, glass transition temperature and polarity of ionomers on tensile properties of PA11/ionomer blends

• Published in: Journal of polymer research 2023-06, Vol.30 (6), Article 221
• Main Authors: Jeong, Yoon-Gwan, Kim, Joon-Seop
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Functional groups; Glass transition temperature; High temperature; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Ion pairs; Ionic interactions; Ionomers; Mechanical properties; Mixtures; Original Paper; Polymer Sciences; Softening agents; Tensile properties
• ISSN: 1022-9760; 1572-8935
• DOI: 10.1007/s10965-023-03613-w

In this study, after blending with ionomer to expand the use of PA11, the stress-stain properties of these blends were investigated. In particular, the ionomers blended with PA11 differed in polarities, T g s, and types of ionic groups, and the effects of these variables on the mechanical properties of the blends were studied. First, it was found that the relatively non-polar ionomer seemed to have stronger interactions between ionic groups and polar functional groups with non-polar PA11 than the polar ionomer. Second, the ion pairs of the ionomer tended to form ionic aggregates when the strength of interaction between ion pairs increased, so the ionomer did not interact with PA11 effectively rather phase-separated. Third, when the T g of the ionomer was relatively low, the ionomer seemed to act as a softening agent and help the PA11 chains move easily while molding the samples at high temperatures. In addition, the high T g ionomers were found to behave as hard fillers in the PA11 blends. It was also suggested that the interfacial adhesion between PA11 and the ionomer was good when the strength of ionic interaction was relatively weak and the T g of the ionomer was not too low.