Radiation-induced copolymerization of styrene/n-butyl acrylate in the presence of ultra-fine powdered styrene–butadiene rubber

Styrene (St)/n-butyl acrylate (BA) copolymers were prepared by two-stage polymerization: St/BA was pre-polymerized to a viscous state by bulk polymerization with initiation by benzoyl peroxide (BPO) followed by ⁶⁰Co γ-ray radiation curing. The resultant copolymers had higher molecular weight and narrower molecular weight distribution than conventional methods. After incorporation of ultra-fine powdered styrene–butadiene rubber (UFSBR) with a particle size of 100 nm in the monomer, the glass transition temperature (T_g) of St–BA copolymer increased at low rubber content. Both the St–BA copolymer and the St–BA copolymer/UFSBR composites had good transparency at BA content below 40%.