THE EFFECT OF MODIFIED NATURAL RUBBER COMPATIBILISERS ON POLYAMIDE 6/NATURAL RUBBER BLENDS

F.H. AXTELL, P. PHINYOCHEEP AND P. KRIENGCHIEOCHARN

ABSTRACT: Polyamide 6 was blended with natural rubber to provide impact toughness. The blend was compatibilised with maleic anhydride modified natural rubber as a third component in the blends. 171e modified rubber compatibilised the polyamide 6/natural rubber blends by forming some copolymer between the two phases. The resultant blends had a finer dispersion of natural rubber in the polyamide 6 matrix. Charpy impact strength and tensile properties were improved, giving intermediate performance between polyamide 6 and commercial high impact polyamide 6. The rheological behaviour was affected by the in situ copolymerisation during mixing, with mixing torque increasing as the reaction took place. The polyamide 6 crystallisation was nucleated both by the addition of the natural rubber and by the compatibilisers.

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Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

Received February 5, 1996