Effect of the physico-mechanical properties of methylmethacrylate, butadiene and styrene copolymers on the impact strength of their compositions with polyvinylchloride☆

Abstract A quantitative connection between the rigidity of methylmethacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymers (MBS) and the impact strength of compositions of the copolymer with PVC has been found. The rigidity was changed by varying the composition of the elastomeric phase and its concentration in the copolymer, as well as by varying the composition of the MBS envelope and the degree of its grafting to the elastomeric nucleus. The affinity of the modifiers towards the PVC matrix was assessed as an index of the specific energy of adhesion and the effect of the strength of the adhesive bond between PVC and MBS on impact properties was studied. The properties required of an MBS copolymer as a modifier for PVC have been determined on the basis of the experimental data.