Abstract: Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer( ABS) was reacted with maleic anhydride( MAH) to form ABS-g-MAH. FTIR showed that some of styrene-acrylonitrile-MAH( SAM) copolymer graftec onto the polybutadiene particles and the other ungrafted SAM existed as free copolymers. Both ABS and ABS-g-MAH were employed separately as a toughener ofPA6. Reological tests displayed that the torque values and temperature of PA6/ABS-g-MAH melts increased with increasing MAH contents. TEM ob servation showed ABS formed big domains in PA6 whereas ABS-g-MAH achieved a good dispersion. Compared with PA6/ABS blends,the brittle-ductile transition temperature of PA6/ABS-g-MAH blends shifted to lower temperatures and the toughness was higher. SEM showed shear vielding of PA6 matrix and cavitation of rubber phase were the major deformation mechanisms of PA6/ABS-g-MAH blends.

Key words: polyamide 6;malefic anhydride grafted acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, emulsion polymerization, toughening, deformation mechanism