Photo-aging changes in mechanical properties of high impact polystyrene, polystyrene-based binary and compatibilized ternary blends

Document Type : Original research

Authors

1 Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Technical Centre, Academic Centre for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Isfahan University of Technology branch, Isfahan, Iran

2 Chemical, Polymeric and Petrochemical Technology Development Research Division, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran

3 Chemical Engineering Department, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

 In this work, the photo-aging behavior of high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polystyrene/ethylene propylene diene monomer (PS/EPDM) binary blends, and compatibilized polystyrene/ethylene propylene diene monomer/ polyamide 6 (PS/EPDM/PA6) ternary blends was studied and compared together. Photo-degradation of polymer blends faces considerable challenges, because a polymer blend is a compound of multiple components with particular interactions and its components may function as degrading or stabilizing agents. Photo-aging generally can cause changes in the color and mechanical properties of polymer compounds. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was conducted to study the chemical interactions between components in the prepared samples. The morphological structure of blends was studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The impact and tensile strength of the samples were measured and compared after exposure to UV radiation. To study the changes in the appearance, the yellowness index values of the samples were followed at different periods of exposure to UV irradiation. The post-radiation results showed similar mechanical performance of ternary and binary blends with the retention of mechanical properties close to each other. The impact strength and elongation-at-break for the HIPS sample were greatly reduced compared to the blends, showing their retention by 8.46 and 7.86%, respectively. The ultimate tensile strength retention in each sample is between 70 and 82% and there is no significant difference between them. The final yellowness index of HIPS was measured to be 1.6 and 1.2 times higher than that of the binary and ternary blends, respectively.

Graphical Abstract

Photo-aging changes in mechanical properties of high impact polystyrene, polystyrene-based binary and compatibilized ternary blends

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Lourenço E, Felisberti MI (2008) PS/EPDM blends prepared by in situ polymerization of styrene. J Appl Polym Sci 110: 1804-1813 [CrossRef]
  2. Alidadi‐Shamsabadi MA, Arefazar A, Shokoohi S (2019) Response surface analysis of PS/EPDM/PA6 ternary blends: Effect of mixing sequence, composition, and viscosity ratio on the mechanical properties. J Vinyl Addit Technol 26: 282-290 [CrossRef]
  3. Lourenço E, Felisberti MI (2007) Mechanical properties of photoaged in situ polymerized PS/EPDM blends. J Appl Polym Sci 106: 3617-3623 [CrossRef]
  4. Libio IC, Grassi VG, Dal Pizzol MF, Bohrz Nachtigall SM (2012) Toughened polystyrene with improved photoresistance: Effects of the compatibilizers. J Appl Polym Sci 126: 179-185 [CrossRef]
  5. Thomas SP (2022) Polystyrene-based composites and their toughening mechanisms. In: Toughened Composites, Taylor and Francis, pp:15-27 [CrossRef]
  6. Alidadi-Shamsabadi M, Shokoohi S (2020) Melt free-radical grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto EPDM backbone and effect of EPDM-g-GMA on the morphology and mechanical properties of PS/EPDM/PA6 ternary blends. Polyolefins J 8: 1-9 [CrossRef]
  7. Fang Z, Guo Z, Zha L (2004) Toughening of polystyrene with ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer (EPDM) compatibilized by styrene‐butadiene‐styrene block copolymer (SBS). Macromol Mater Eng 289: 743-748 [CrossRef]
  8. Lourenço E, Felisberti MI (2006) Thermal and mechanical properties of in situ polymerized PS/EPDM blends. Eur Polym J 42: 2632-2645 [CrossRef]
  9. Li J, Guo S, Slezák R, Hausnerová B (2005). In situ compatibilization of PS/EPDM blends during ultrasonic extrusion. Macromol Chem Phys 206: 2429-2439 [CrossRef]
  10. Al-Malaika S, Artus K (1998) Chemical modification of polymer blends by reactive processing: In situ reactions of interlinking agents in PS/EPDM blends. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 1933-1951 [CrossRef]
  11. Afsari B, Razavi Aghjeh MK, Hasanpour M (2020) Evolution of morphology and morphology stability in PP/PA6/EPDM-g-MA reactive ternary blends using viscoelastic measurements. Rheo Acta 59: 399-414 [CrossRef]
  12. Titire LC, Musteata AE, Cioromila (Cantaragiu) A, Cristea GC, Ojoc GG, Deleanu L (2021) Characterization of blend PA6 +EPDM (60/40) by tensile tests. Mater Plast 58: 51-63 [CrossRef]
  13. Razak JA, Ahmad SH, Ratnam CT, Mahamood MA, Yaakub J, Mohamad N (2015) Effects of EPDM‐g‐MAH compatibilizer and internal mixer processing parameters on the properties of NR/EPDM blends: An analysis using response surface methodology. J Appl Polym Sci 132: 42199 [CrossRef]
  14. Li Z-X, Zeng H-Y, Gohi BFCA, Ding P-X (2020) Preparation of CeO2-decorated organic-pillared hydrotalcites for the UV resistance of polymer. Appl Surf Sci 507: 145110 [CrossRef]
  15. Archodoulaki V-M, Koch T, Jones MP (2022) Thermo(oxidative) stability of polymeric materials. In: Thermal analysis of polymeric materials, Vol.1, Wiley, pp: 353-379 [CrossRef]
  16. Li Y, Xue B, Wang S, Sun J, Li H, Gu X, Wang H, Zhang S (2020) Photoaging and fire performance of polypropylene containing melamine phosphate. ACS Appl Polym Mater 2: 4455-4463 [CrossRef]
  17. Zhao X, Wang J, Leung KMY, Wu F (2022) Color: An important but overlooked factor for plastic photoaging and microplastic formation. Environ Sci Technol 56: 9161-9163 [CrossRef]
  18. Wu X, Liu P, Wang H, Huang H, Shi Y, Yang C, Gao S (2021) Photo aging of polypropylene microplastics in estuary water and coastal seawater: Important role of chlorine ion. Water Res 202: 117396 [CrossRef]
  19. Ahmed A, Al-Mashhadani MH, Ahmed DS, Ahmed AA, Yousif E, Yusop RM (2021) Preparation of polymeric films containing Schiff base as UV-absorber with good resistance against UV-photoaging. Biointerface Res Appl Chem 11: 12743-12749 [CrossRef]
  20. Luna CBB, Gomes FBC, Ferreira EDSB, Araújo EM, Ferreira RDSB, Wellen RMR (2019) Photo-degradation of PS/SBRr blends compatibilized with SEBS. Mater Res Exp 6: 095327 [CrossRef]
  21. Shokoohi S, Arefazar A, Naderi G (2011) Compatibilized polypropylene/ethylene–propylene–diene-monomer/polyamide6 ternary blends: Effect of twin screw extruder processing parameters. Mater Des 32: 1697-1703 [CrossRef]
  22. Al-Malaika S, Kong W (2005) Reactive processing of polymers: Functionalisation of ethylene–propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) in the presence and absence of a co-agent and effect of functionalised EPDM on compatibilisation of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/EPDM blends. Polym Degrad Stabil 90: 197-210 [CrossRef]
  23. Alidadi-Shamsabadi M, Arefazar A, Shokoohi S (2020) Improvements in the synthesis and characterization of glycidyl methacrylate-grafted EPDM through melt free-radical process. Rubber Chem Technol 93: 222-234 [CrossRef]
  24. Li H, Sui X, Xie X-M (2018) Correlation of morphology evolution with superior mechanical properties in PA6/PS/PP/SEBS blends compatibilized by multi-phase compatibilizers. Chinese J Polym Sci 36: 848-858 [CrossRef]
  25. Jazani O, Arefazar A, Peymanfar M, Saeb M, Talaei A, Bahadori B (2013) The influence of NBR-g-GMA compatibilizer on the morphology and mechanical properties of poly (ethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate/NBR ternary blends. Polym Plast Technol Eng 52: 1295-1302 [CrossRef]
  26. Jazani OM, Arefazar A, Jafari S, Peymanfar MR, Saeb MR, Talaei A (2013) SEBS-g-MAH as a reactive compatibilizer precursor for PP/PTT/SEBS ternary blends: Morphology and mechanical properties. Polym Plast Technol Eng 52: 206-212 [CrossRef]
  27. Zhou Y, Wang W, Dou R, Li LP, Yin B, Yang MB (2013) Effect of EPDM‐g‐MAH on the morphology and properties of PA6/EPDM/HDPE ternary blends. Polym Eng Sci 53: 1845-1855 [CrossRef]
  28. Shaw S, Singh R (1987) Study of compatibility of polystyrene with ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. Eur Polym J 23: 547-550 [CrossRef]
  29. Afeissa S, Boukezzi L, Bessissa L, Loucif A (2022) Comparison between crosslincable silane-XLPE and peroxide-XLPE HV insulation under cyclic accelerated weathering aging – FTIR study. 2nd International Conference on Advanced Electrical Engineering (ICAEE), Algeria: 1-6 [CrossRef]
  • Receive Date: 22 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 25 December 2024
  • Accept Date: 11 January 2025
  • First Publish Date: 11 January 2025