Submicrometer-sized rubber particles as "craze-bridge" for toughening polystyrene/high-impact polystyrene

Submicrometer core‐shell polybutadiene‐graft‐polystyrene (PB‐g‐PS) copolymers were synthesized by emulsion grafting polymerization with 1,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. Then, PB‐g‐PS copolymers were blended with high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) and PS to prepare HIPS/PS/PB‐g‐PS. It is gener...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied polymer science 2013-07, Vol.129 (1), p.224-229
Main Authors: Zhu, Li Dan, Yang, Hong Yu, Cai, Gui Di, Zhou, Chao, Wu, Guang Feng, Zhang, Ming Yao, Gao, Guang Hui, Zhang, Hui Xuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Atoms & subatomic particles
Blends
Copolymerization
Copolymers
Crazing
emulsion polymerization
Exact sciences and technology
Hips
Impact strength
Lead (metal)
Materials science
Organic polymers
Physicochemistry of polymers
Polymerization
Polymers
polystyrene
Polystyrene resins
Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts
Recycling
resins
Rubber
Tires
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Summary:Submicrometer core‐shell polybutadiene‐graft‐polystyrene (PB‐g‐PS) copolymers were synthesized by emulsion grafting polymerization with 1,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. Then, PB‐g‐PS copolymers were blended with high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) and PS to prepare HIPS/PS/PB‐g‐PS. It is generally accepted that PS could only be toughened by 1–3‐μm rubber particles effectively. From the Izod impact test, however, the results showed that PS could be toughened effectively by submicrometer rubber particles (around 300 nm) in our study. Moreover, the impact strength of HIPS/PS/PB‐g‐PS is much higher than that of HIPS due to the synergism between submicrometer rubber particles and micrometer salami particles. Subsequently, the stress‐whitening zones for HIPS, PS/PB‐g‐PS, and HIPS/PS/PB‐g‐PS were also observed in detail by transmission electron microscope. Based on mechanical properties and deformation morphologies, the deformation mechanism in the HIPS/PS/PB‐g‐PS blends was given as follows: crazes could be initiated from large rubber particles, passed through “craze‐bridge” rubber particles, and ended to neighboring small one, which prevented excessively crazing to be form cracks, absorbed energy, and finally enhanced the toughness of PS. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
ISSN:0021-8995
1097-4628
DOI:10.1002/app.38716