Polyamide PPOs

The blending of PPO and polyamides requires special grafting techniques to give a good bond between the two polymers, as otherwise the two polymers are incompatible. Whilst these polymers show the good dimensional stability and toughness of styrenic PPOs, they also have 

As a consequence of these advantages, these blends are finding particular application for car parts that can be painted on-line side by side with metals at high temperatures. 

Polyamide PPOs are manufactured by General Electric (Noryl GTX), BASF having now withdrawn from marketing their product (Ultranyl). Usage of the blends has so far been mainly in the automobile field for such applications as valance panels, wheel trims, grilles, rear quarter panels, front bumpers and tailgates. 

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Blends of PPO with polyamides. (Referred to below as polyamide PPOs.)... 

A wide variety of polymers can be foamed, including the polymethanes, polyisocyanurates, PVC, polystyrene, ABS, polycarbonate, PET, PBT, polyamides, PPO, EVA and the polyolefins. Other additives required for the foaming process besides blowing agents may include foam nucleating agents, stabilisers, surfactants, plasticisers, colourants, flame retardants and particulate fillers. 

Azodicarbonamide (AZC) is by far the most widely used CBA. It can foam PVC, including plasticised PVC, as well as the polyolefins, the styrenics, polyamides, PPO and some thermoplastic elastomers. AZC decomposes exothermically at around 210 °C to give nitrogen gas, along with other degradation products such as mea, cyanuric acid and cyamelide as solid by-products. Another possible residue is semicarbazide, traces of which have been found in foamed gaskets made of PVC blown with azodicarbonamide (see Chapter 7). 

Addition of nanoparticles results in less coalescence of particles during the melt processing, causing improved compatibilization. For example, exfoliated clay compatibilization, snch as in a polycarbonate/polymethylmethacrylate (PC/ PMMA) system, polyphenylene oxide/polyamide (PPO/PA), polyamide/ethyl-ene propylene diene elastomer (PA/EPDM) rnbber, polystyrene/polymethyl-methacrylate (PS/PMMA), and polyvinyl fluoride/polyamide-6 (PVF/PA) blends, is affected by lowering the interfacial tension between the two phases that are phase separated. 

Polyphenylene oxide/polystyrene (PPO/PS) Polyphenylene oxide/polyamide (PPO/PA)... 

The chemical pretreatment methods mentioned are mostly used for TPOs, but in some cases can also be effective when used on polyamide (PA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or other crystalline polymers, as well as some blends like poly(phenylene oxide)/polyamide (PPO/PA), are flamed. As a possible future trend, research is currently underway (plasma polymerization) attempting to combine a pretreatment for adhesion and to provide the surface conductivity on necessary on plastic parts for acceptable electrostatic application (15). 

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