Enhancement of Vibration Damping and Viscoelastic Properties of MABS Through Novel Polymer Blends with VDT and SEBS-g-MAH Compatibilizer

This study investigates the development of novel polymer blends aimed at enhancing the mechanical and vibration damping properties of Methyl Methacrylate Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (MABS). A multi-phase binary polymer blend was formulated using melt mixing in a twin-screw extruder with varying weight ratios (10, 20, and 30 wt.%) of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (trade name VDT). Additionally, the impact of a Maleic Anhydride-grafted Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene (SEBS-g-MAH) was used as a compatibilizer at different concentrations (2, 4, and 6 wt.%) and the effect was evaluated. Compatibility and performance were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and microscopy techniques. The results demonstrated significant improvement in the damping properties with the incorporation of the elastomeric phase into the MABS matrix. The best results were given by the 4 wt.% SEBS-g-MAH which exhibited the highest enhancement in both damping performance and tensile strength. Morphological analysis revealed the underlying reasons for the enhanced compatibility between MABS and VDT. Further insights from NMR and FT-IR analyses corroborated the superior interaction within the MABS-VDT blend. These findings suggest that the strategic incorporation of VDT, coupled with the optimal concentration of SEBS-g-MAH compatibilizer, effectively enhances the viscoelastic properties of MABS, making it a promising candidate for applications requiring advanced vibration damping materials