ABSTRACT
The effect of the rubber content and rubber particle size on the toughening of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) has been studied from both the scientific and the technical perspective. A model was recently presented to explain the craze extension mechanism in bimodal HIPS by using the finite element method. Bimodal HIPS specimens were obtained by injection molding, following the blending of two monomodal HIPS that had rubber particles of different average diameters, or different structure. In bimodal HIPS, the long stress convergence length caused by large rubber particles and the short ligament thickness caused by a large number of small particles will give longer crazes and consequently a higher impact loading. Nonlinear stress analysis around rubber particles in HIPS was carried out for uniaxial tensile loading using the finite element method.
