Abstract: A series of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS) were prepared by melt blending PB-g-SAN with styrene-co-acrylonitrile (SAN). The effect of rubber content on the impact and tensile properties of ABS was investigated. The dispersion morphology and deformation mechanism were studied by transmission electron microscope (TEM). It was found that the impact strength increased firstly and then decreased with increasing rubber content. The elongation at break increased with the increasing rubber content. A uniform dispersion of rubbery particle in the matrix could be observed when the rubber content was lower. However, at higher rubber contents, the dispersion morphology became poorer and the agglomeration of rubber particles occurred. The main deformation mechanism of the ABS resin was changed from cavitations to the craze and then shears yielding, with increasing rubber content.

Key words: acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, rubber content, impact strength, micro morphology, deformation mechanism