ABSTRACT
I. Introduction ................................................................. 436 II. Influence of the Structure and Properties
of Rubber Particles on the Toughness of Amorphous Polymers................................................... 440 A. Glass Transition Temperature of the
Rubbery Phase.................................................. 440 B. Grafting of the Rubber Particles..................... 442
1. Adhesion .............................................. 442 2. Agglomeration ..................................... 444
C. Particle Size of the Rubber Particles .............. 452 1. Pseudo-Ductile Homopolymers .......... 452 2. Brittle Homopolymers ........................ 456 3. Semi-Brittle Homopolymers............... 467
D. Structure of the Rubber Particles ................... 471 E. Voiding of Rubber Particles ............................. 473
1. Cross-Linking...................................... 474 2. Addition of Oil..................................... 479
III. Summary...................................................................... 481 References............................................................................. 482
I. INTRODUCTION
The main aim of the rubber modification of thermoplastic homopolymers is to improve their toughness. There are various methods to increase the toughness of amorphous homopolymers, e.g., by copolymerization and by the incorporation of a second phase like other thermoplastics, inorganic materials, very small voids and spherical rubber particles.
