Preparation of poly(butyl acrylate)‐grafted‐poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) particles for toughening poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) resin

Abstract Herein, the impact modifier of poly(butyl acrylate) grafted poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (PBA‐g‐SAN) with 60% rubber content was prepared by emulsion grafting polymerization and subsequently blended with styrene–acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) resin to construct acrylate styrene acrylonitrile (ASA) resins. The effects of acrylonitrile content of PBA‐g‐SAN copolymer and PBA size on the ASA resins' mechanical properties were investigated. Experimental results revealed that ASA resin's highest impact strength reached 27.75 kJ/m 2 . The lap shear adhesion test suggested that the PBA‐g‐SAN copolymer with 21% AN content exhibited excellent interfacial adhesion with SAN resin. The PBA‐g‐SAN particles with 100 and 400 nm poly (butyl acrylate) as core rubbers demonstrated a synergistic toughening effect for SAN resin. The high blackness ASA resin with excellent impact resistance was obtained when the 100 nm and the 400 nm poly (butyl acrylate) particle mass ratio reached 8/2. Highlights The ASA resin with 27.75KJ/m 2 impact strength was prepared. The synergistic toughening mechanisms were investigated. The high blackness ASA resin was constructed.