Toughening and Chain-Extending Effect of Tris(4-Hydroxyphenyl)methane Triglycidyl Ether for Waste Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene

Abstract

Adding a chain extender is one of the effective means to achieve high-value recycling of waste acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (wABS). In this study, tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane triglycidyl ether (TTE), with the small molecular structure and multiple epoxy groups, was used as a chain extender in wABS. The effects of TTE on the mechanical properties, molar mass, rheological behaviors, thermal stability, and fracture morphology were studied. The results showed that TTE extended the broken wABS chains, increased the molar mass, and improved the morphology of wABS/TTE, resulting in better performance in impact strength, tensile strength, storage modulus, loss modulus, complex viscosity, and thermal stability. When the content of TTE is 2.0 wt.%, the impact strength of the wABS/TTE blend increased to 28.5 kJ/m², which was a 20.8% increase compared with wABS, and both T _5% and T _max2 in air had been improved, with each showing an increase of 5°C and 9°C, respectively, compared to wABS. The incorporation of TTE significantly enhanced wABS, improving interfacial bonding and providing better performance for wABS.