Effect of Reprocessing and Accelerated Weathering on ABS Properties

• Published in: Journal of polymers and the environment 2010-03, Vol.18 (1), p.71-78
• Main Authors: Pérez, J. M, Vilas, J. L, Laza, J. M, Arnáiz, S, Mijangos, F, Bilbao, E, León, L. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABS; Accelerated weathering; Acrylonitrile; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Feasibility studies; Flow index; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Science; mechanical properties; Original Paper; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Reprocessing; Styrene; Thermal energy; Thermal properties; Weather; Weathering
• ISSN: 1566-2543; 1572-8919; 1572-8900
• DOI: 10.1007/s10924-009-0154-7

The feasibility of reprocessing has been investigated as a possible alternative for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABS) recycling. Up to 10 reprocessing cycles have been performed by both extrusion and injection techniques and their effect on thermal and mechanical properties have been studied. Moreover, the effect of the combined reprocessing and accelerated weathering has been analyzed. Measurements collected after each molding cycle indicated virtually complete retention of thermal properties. The same behaviour has been observed from accelerated weathering tests. With respect to the mechanical properties, neither the flow index nor the tensile strength were affected by the number of reprocessing cycles though the impact strength decreased slightly. However, the studies based on the accelerated weathering show that there is an important influence of the number of reprocessing cycles on the tensile strength.