ABS blends with phenoxy: morphology,thermal, mechanical and rheological properties

Blends of ABS (acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) with phenoxy(poly(hydroxyether bisphenol A)) were prepared using a Branender single screw extruder. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs (SEM, TEM) showed a typical two-phase morphology; particle-in-matrix (90/10) (ABS/phenoxy by weight), 70/30, 10/90), island/sea (30/70) and co-continuous (50/50) morphologies. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of SAN was almost unchanged in the blends, while the T_g of phenoxy increased by about 5 °C in the blends. The synergistic effect of tensile modulus and strength was noted in ABS-rich blends, where a drastic drop of ductility was seen, and the results were interpreted in terms of rubber particle migration form SAN to phenoxy phase, which was visualized by TEM. Melt viscosity showed yield in ABS-rich blends, and generally followed the log additivity.