Styrene-acrylonitrile mechanical properties

On processing butadiene-styrene thermoplastic rubbers, the major effect on mechanical property deterioration is a result of the agglomeration of styrene particles [58]. For ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resins, mechanical properties deteriorate on processing due to double bond oxidation. At more severe conditions, a decrease of the matrix resin [poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile)] molecular weight is a superimposed effect [59]. 

Acrylonitrile—Butadiene—Styrene. ABS is an important commercial polymer, with numerous apphcations. In the late 1950s, ABS was produced by emulsion grafting of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers onto polybutadiene latex particles. This method continues to be the basis for a considerable volume of ABS manufacture. More recently, ABS has also been produced by continuous mass and mass-suspension processes (237). The various products may be mechanically blended for optimizing properties and cost. Brittle SAN, toughened by SAN-grafted ethylene—propylene and acrylate mbbets, is used in outdoor apphcations. Flame retardancy of ABS is improved by chlorinated PE and other flame-retarding additives (237). 

Copolymers of acrylonitrile [107-13-1] are used in extmsion and molding appHcations. Commercially important comonomers for barrier appHcations include styrene and methyl acrylate. As the comonomer content is increased, the permeabiUties increase as shown in Figure 3. These copolymers are not moisture-sensitive. Table 7 contains descriptions of three high nitrile barrier polymers. Barex and Cycopac resins are mbber-modified to improve the mechanical properties. 

Coran and Patel [33] selected a series of TPEs based on different rubbers and thermoplastics. Three types of rubbers EPDM, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and nitrile (NBR) were selected and the plastics include PP, PS, styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), and PA. It was shown that the ultimate mechanical properties such as stress at break, elongation, and the elastic recovery of these dynamically cured blends increased with the similarity of the rubber and plastic in respect to the critical surface tension for wetting and with the crystallinity of the plastic phase. Critical chain length of the rubber molecule, crystallinity of the hard phase (plastic), and the surface energy are a few of the parameters used in the analysis. Better results are obtained with a crystalline plastic material when the entanglement molecular length of the... 

Copolymers of styrene, especially with acrylonitrile, also attained increasing importance both in the unmodified form (30) and modified with rubber as ABS copolymers. The first products of this kind were blends of nitrile rubber and SAN (31). However, these only had mediocre mechanical properties because the interfacial compatibility was insufficient. The breakthrough came when nitrile rubber was replaced by a polybutadiene rubber which was grafted in emulsion with styrene and acrylonitrile... 

Styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers have a high natural affinity for PBT, giving blends with good mechanical properties. If the SAN copolymer is grafted... 

Meincke O, Kaempfer D, Weickmann H, Friedrich C, Vathauer M, Warth H (2004). Mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of carbon-nanotube filled polyamide-6 and its blends with acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene. Polymer 45 739-748. 

ABS (30% acrylonitrile, 20% butadiene, and 50% styrene) is a tough plastic with outstanding mechanical properties ABS is one of the few plastics that combines both toughness and hardness. So the applications include ballpoint pen shells, fishing boxes, extruded pipes, and space vehicle mechanical parts. There s more than 20 pounds of ABS molded parts in an automobile. 

Several flexible polymers, such as natural rubber (NR) synthetic rubber (SR) polyalkyl acrylates copolymers of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene, (ABS) and polyvinyl alkyl ethers, have been used to improve the impact resistance of PS and PVC. PS and copolymers of ethylene and propylene have been used to increase the ductility of polyphenylene oxide (PPO) and nylon 66, respectively. The mechanical properties of several other engineering plastics have been improved by blending them with thermoplastics. 

S.C. Tjong and Y.Z. Meng, Effect of reactive compatibilizers on the mechanical properties of polycarbonate/poly(acrylonitrile-buta-diene-styrene) blends, Enr. Polym. J., 36(1) 123-129, January 2000. 

A. Arostegui, M. Sarrionandia, J. Aurrekoetxea, and I. Urrutibeas-coa, Effect of dissolution-based recycling on the degradation and the mechanical properties of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, Polym. Degrad. Stab., 91(ll) 2768-2774, November 2006. 

By chemical agents, indirect grafting on Nylon in liquid phase is frequently referred to in the bibliography. The most common reagent is air (144) or ozone, under controlled conditions, in order to avoid deterioration on the mechanical properties of the fiber, which is then immersed in the monomer. Hence, styrene (145-149), vinylidene chloride (146), vinyl acetate (146), acrylic and methacrylic acids (149), methyl methacrylate (146), acrylonitrile (146,148,149), 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine (149) were successfully employed as grafting comonomers. 

This study was therefore undertaken to prepare and evaluate acrylonitrile—butadiene-styrene (ABS) and methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS) polymers under similar conditions to determine whether replacement of acrylonitrile by methyl methacrylate could improve color stability during ultraviolet light aging, without detracting seriously from the good mechanical and thermal-mechanical properties of conventional ABS plastics. For purposes of control, the study also included briefer evaluation of commercial ABS, MBS, and acrylonitrile-butyl acrylate-styrene plastics. 

Typical mechanical properties for transparent injection-molded polymers, designated MBAS, having a compositional range of from 11-18%, 1,3-butadiene, 34-39% styrene, and 23-25% each of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate are given in Table IV. This polymer is closely akin to the polyblend described previously, differing by containing a butadiene-styrene elastomer backbone, with a terpolymer resin graft consist-... 

Of the styrene copolymers used for food packaging the styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer known as SAN still needs to be mentioned. SAN copolymers possess better mechanical properties and better resistance to oils and aroma compounds than PS. Copolymers with acrylonitrile fractions of 20-35 % find uses as household and camping dishes. Copolymers with a higher acrylonitrile content (> 60%) have earned particular importance as barrier plastics. With an increasing acrylonitrile fraction, the gas permeability decreases sharply. 

We have just discussed several methods for improving the mechanical properties of polymers. In addition to these techniques, one could think about synthesizing copolymers of styrene and less brittle monomer(s). Actually, we have already seen that this approach has been used with considerable success (see Chapter 5 and Table 5-2). Styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) terpolymers have excellent impact strength. Although sometimes copolymerization is a viable option, oftentimes a completely different approach is called for. Let s see how. 

MABS polymers (methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) together with blends composed of polyphenylene ether and impact-resistant polystyrene (PPE/PS-I) also form part of the styrenic copolymer product range. Figure 2.1 provides an overview of the different classes of products and trade names. A characteristic property is their amorphous nature, i.e. high dimensional stability and largely constant mechanical properties to just below the glass transition temperature, Tg. 

This chapter discusses the dynamic mechanical properties of polystyrene, styrene copolymers, rubber-modified polystyrene and rubber-modified styrene copolymers. In polystyrene, the experimental relaxation spectrum and its probable molecular origins are reviewed further the effects on the relaxations caused by polymer structure (e.g. tacticity, molecular weight, substituents and crosslinking) and additives (e.g. plasticizers, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, flame retardants and colorants) are assessed. The main relaxation behaviour of styrene copolymers is presented and some of the effects of random copolymerization on secondary mechanical relaxation processes are illustrated on styrene-co-acrylonitrile and styrene-co-methacrylic acid. Finally, in rubber-modified polystyrene and styrene copolymers, it is shown how dynamic mechanical spectroscopy can help in the characterization of rubber phase morphology through the analysis of its main relaxation loss peak. 

This latex is then processed to isolate the ABS resin, ABS thermoplastic combines good mechanical properties and heat resistance. It is used in many household appliances, automotive parts, furniture, etc. Another similar terpolymer is acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA). It is used in automobile industry, in house construction, household appliances, etc. 

The microphase structure and mechanical properties of the blends containing neat acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) and sodium sulfonated SAN ionomer have been investigated as a function of ion content of the ionomer in the blend by Park et a/.51 The interfacial adhesion was quantified by H NMR solid echo experiments. The amount of interphase for the blend containing the SAN ionomer with low ion content (3.1 mol%) was nearly the same as that of ABS, but it decreases with the ion content of the ionomer for the blend with an ion content greater than 3.1 mol%. Changing the ionomer content in the blends shows a positive deviation from the rule of mixtures in tensile properties of the blends containing the SAN ionomer with low ion content. This seems to result from the enhanced tensile properties of the SAN ionomer, interfacial adhesion between the rubber and matrix, and the stress concentration effect of the secondary particles. 

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