Thermal degradation and ageing behaviour of novel thermoplastic elastomeric nylon-6/acrylate rubber reactive blends

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 575 - 586
• Main Authors: Jha, Abhijit, Bhowmick, A.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical reactions and properties; Degradation; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Amide 6 polymer; Thermal ageing; Thermooxidative degradation; Reaction mechanism; Thermoplastic rubber; Ethyl acrylate copolymer; Exchange reaction; Experimental study; Heterogeneous mixture; Thermal stability; Thermal degradation
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/S0141-3910(98)00044-5

The thermal degradation behaviour of thermoplastic elastomeric blends of nylon-6 and an acrylate rubber (ACM) has been studied by non-isothermal thermogravimetry. The thermal stability of the blends is low compared to that of nylon-6, which is explained on the basis of ‘ester-amide interchange’ reaction at high temperature during degradation. The exchange reaction effectively degrades the nylon-6 phase in the blends. The melt reaction between nylon-6 and ACM which occurs during the blending operation, slightly improves the stability of the blends. Ageing of dynamically cured 40/60 (w/w) nylon-6/ACM blend, which is thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) in nature, has been carried out in air at various temperatures and times. The results show excellent heat resistance of the TPE at elevated service temperature.