EUROPEAN

POLYMER
European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160
JOURNAL
www.elsevier.com/locate/europolj

Recycling of ABS and PC from electrical and electronic waste.

Effect of miscibility and previous degradation
on final performance of industrial blends
a,*
Rafael Balart , Juan López a, David Garcı́a a, M. Dolores Salvador a,b

a
Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Paseo del Viaducto 1,
03801 Alcoy, Alicante, Spain
b
Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain

Received 14 October 2004; received in revised form 31 March 2005; accepted 1 April 2005
Available online 24 May 2005

Abstract

The aim of this work, within the framework of polymer recycling, is to upgrade waste from electrical and electronic
equipment. Blends of the two major residues were prepared via a melt blending process. These are ABS consisting of a
SAN thermoplastic matrix with a dispersed elastomeric (polybutadiene rubber) component and polycarbonate (PC).
The effect of partial miscibility and previous degradation levels was investigated. Mechanical characterization of
ABS/PC systems was carried out to determine the optimum composition range. Previous degradation levels of the
two wastes were investigated by FTIR and little degradation was found on ABS due to the presence of a polybutadiene
rubber which is more sensitive to thermo-oxidative processes but no significant degradation was found on PC. Differ-
ential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests demonstrated certain miscibility between the two components by identifying
two glass transition temperatures. This partial miscibility, together with the small degradation of the elastomeric com-
ponent, contributes to a low interaction promoting a decrease on mechanical performance. Scanning electron micro-
graphs (SEM) showed the system morphology and certain lack of adherence along SAN/polybutadiene interface
related to degradation of polybutadiene spheres which act as stress concentrators. The use of the equivalent box model
(EBM) allowed to quantify the interaction level by determining an interaction/adherence parameter ‘‘A’’, which turned
to be lower than 1 and corroborated the lack of interaction.

2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Recycling; Blends; Mechanical properties; Mechanical models

1. Introduction since separation processes of the different industrial

Analysis of polymer alloys and blends has become a
special field of research on polymeric materials recycling,
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 96 652 84 21; fax: +34 96
652 84 78.
E-mail address: rbalart@mcm.upv.es (R. Balart).
wastes can be very complex and expensive [1]. Some sep-
aration processes based on physical and chemical proper-
ties of materials have been proposed [2,3] but they are
difficult to be applied at industrial level in most cases.
Otherwise we have to take into account that most of
these wastes (mainly engineering and high performance
plastics) maintain an excellent balance in properties

0014-3057/$ - see front matter
2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2005.04.001
 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160
and they can be directly recycled by using different types
of reinforcements to improve mechanical properties [4].
Recycling of different wastes by blending techniques
is a feasible solution for most engineering plastic wastes,
as in the case of ABS and polycarbonate (PC) coming
from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
ABS/PC mixtures are quite complex since the system
can be considered as a physical blend of two materials
with different nature: a high toughness homopolymer,
PC, and a great consumption material, such as ABS,
which consists of a poly(styrene-acrylonitrile) (24 wt%
acrylonitrile) block copolymer (SAN) matrix in which
polybutadiene spheres of elastomeric nature are dis-
persed. But in addition to the academic interest in this
system, there exists an industrial interest not only for
WEEE but also for automotive wastes [5,6] and then,
we have to be able to relate microscopic properties with
macroscopic ones (mainly mechanical properties), since
this will allow to undertake recycling and upgrading
processes for these wastes.
It is not necessary that a recycled material would
show the same properties than virgin resins. Neverthe-
less, a good balance between properties and process-
ability which allows its reuse and upgrading is
absolutely necessary in a recycled material. Blending
techniques are an interesting solution to obtain syner-
getic properties and upgrade polymer wastes but they
are limited by compatibility considerations. Compati-
bility is an often poorly defined qualitative term and
it can drive to different interpretations. Therefore, it
is possible to process these materials for the whole
compositions range and obtain a homogeneous mate-
rial from a macroscopic point of view with no discon-
tinuities on blend morphology; but, on the other hand,
the presence of two different glass transition tempera-
tures (Tg) shows a typical sign of an immiscible or par-
tially miscible system. The relationship between Tg
changes and macroscopic behaviour of blends can
drive, in certain cases, to contradictory results. Some
partially miscible systems that show large Tg changes,
which are indicative of high interactions and as a con-
sequence high solubility, show mechanical properties
below the additivity rule (PVC/PS system), while sys-
tems with lower Tg changes, and consequently lower
solubility, show changes in tensile strength with com-
position almost corresponding to additivity such as
for PMMA/PS blends [7].
2. Experimental
2.1. Materials
Polycarbonate (PC) and ABS wastes were provided
by ACTECO S.A (Alcoy, Spain) coming from electrical
and electronic equipment. Both materials were charac-
2151
terized and the obtained results for MFI, density and
VST were as follows. For polycarbonate waste: MFI
(230 C/5 kg) = 6.06; density = 1.2 g/cm3; VST = 139.2
C. For ABS waste: MFI (230 C/5 kg) = 20.45; den-
sity = 1.05 g/cm3; VST = 95.3 C.
2.2. Blends and sample preparation
In order to obtain an optimum blending process, PC
and ABS wastes, in pellet form, were respectively dried
in vacuum at 120 C and 80 C during 4 h. Later, they
were mixed by using a screw extruder at 220 C and
then, samples for different mechanical tests were pre-
pared by an injection moulding process on a Sandretto
30 lm (Sandretto UK Limited, Warwickshire, England).
Injection speed varied in the range 25–32 cm3/s depend-
ing on the blend composition and temperature in the
injection point was varied in the range 240–290 C for
ABS and PC based compositions, respectively. Injection
pressure was maintained in the range 1700–1800 bar. We
used a mould with normalized samples dimensions for
tensile and impact tests according ISO-527 and ISO-179.
2.3. Measurements of previous degradation level
As both ABS and PC are especially sensitive to ther-
mo-oxidative processes, identification of degradation
species achieves great relevance. By infrared spectros-
copy we compared spectra for recycled and virgin mate-
rials to estimate degradation levels accumulated by both
materials during their pre-processing and service life.
Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) mea-
surements were carried out with a Mattson Satellite 3000
spectrometer (Thermo Electron Corporation, Erlangen,
Germany). The thin films were prepared by solution
with dichloroethane and dried to remove all solvent
traces.
2.4. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements
Miscibility of the different components of ABS/PC
system was studied through the changes on glass transi-
tion temperature (Tg) by using a Mettler-Toledo 821
DSC (Mettler Toledo Inc., Schwarzenbach, Switzer-
land). 5–7 mg samples were subjected to a first heating
(30–160 C at 10 C/min) followed by a slow cooling
to remove thermal history and were heated again (30–
250 C at 10 C/min) until degradation. Measurements
of glass transition temperature were made on the second
heating curve.
2.5. Mechanical properties
Mechanical properties were determined by means
of a universal tensile test machine ELIB 30 (S.A.E.
Ibertest, Madrid, Spain) following ISO-527. Impact
2152 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160
energy was determined by using Charpy method
(S.A.E. Ibertest, Madrid, Spain) according to ISO-
179 standard.
2.6. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements
Morphology studies of the fracture surfaces of the
different blend compositions were carried out by means
of a scanning electron microscope JEOL JSM-6300
(JEOL USA Inc., Peabody, USA). Coating process
was performed in vacuum conditions. In addition, en-
ergy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) was carried out
with a microprobe (Link Pentafed, Oxford Instruments)
for qualitative analysis of fracture surfaces.
2.7. Other techniques
MFI measurements were obtained with a extrusion
plastometer (Ats Faar S.p.A, Vignate, Italy) according
to the guidelines of ISO-1133 and Vicat softening tem-
perature (VST) measurements were made on a standard
Vicat/HDT station DEFLEX 687-A2 (Metrotec S.A.,
San Sebastian, Spain) following ISO-306.
Fig. 1. Comparison between FTIR spectra of (a) recycled ABS and (b) a commercial (Polylac PA-714C) virgin ABS resin.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Previous degradation levels of ABS and PC wastes
As we are working with wastes, a previous degrada-
tion study is relevant as degradation accumulated by
both materials can condition their final performance.
FTIR spectra for both ABS and PC wastes were
compared with virgin ABS and PC spectra to estimate
differences. We could appreciate small degradation
in ABS identified by the presence of hydroxyl
groups which absorb near 3250 cm
1 (Fig. 1). The
absence of carbonyl groups (which absorb around
1750 cm
1), which appear as a result of high thermo-
oxidative degradation levels, indicates that previous
degradation levels on ABS are not significant and they
will not condition significantly the final performance of
blends.
Regarding the PC resin (Fig. 2), although it is
highly sensitive to hydrolysis and thermo- and photo-
oxidative processes, its FTIR spectrum shows no degra-
dation peaks and this indicates the good quality of the
waste.
 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160
Fig. 2. Comparison between FTIR spectra of (a) recycled PC and (b) a commercial (Trirex 3122/3022) virgin PC resin.
3.2. Miscibility of ABS/PC system
Observations on some PC/styrene copolymers were
used to estimate interaction energies between binary
pairs using the Flory–Huggins theory, where composi-
tion of the styrenic copolymer (mainly acrylonitrile con-
tent), and the nature of the polycarbonate resin are
decisive on the miscibility study. In the different calori-
metric analysis we obtained systems with only one Tg,
systems on which PC shows evidence of certain crystal-
line zones, but the most common situation is that the
different blends show partial miscibility [8–11].
Our study has focussed on the analysis of bisphenol-
A, PC homopolymer and ABS with a SAN matrix and
an elastomeric component dispersed in spherical form.
Both materials were subjected to a previous processing
cycle and they were exposed to degradation conditions
during service life. In this work we analysed thermal
behaviour of blends in order to relate macroscopic prop-
erties with microscopic behaviour. As we are working
with amorphous materials, information about interac-
tion phenomena between components is restricted to
the study of changes on Tg since the system does not
show melting peaks which allow to observe annealing
effects typical of PC, such in blends with poly(ethyl-
2153
ene-terephthalate) [12], effects that can influence on
mechanical properties.
Regarding changes on Tg values, we can observe that
ABS/PC system displays two glass transitions for all the
compositions range. The dependence with the composi-
tion indicates certain interaction between components.
If the system is immiscible, Tg values of individual poly-
mers would not change; otherwise if the system is com-
pletely miscible, it would display only one Tg. ABS/PC
system shows an intermediate behaviour, since we can
observe two changing Tg values in the whole composi-
tion range (Fig. 3). When compared to similar styrenic
blends with amorphous materials, changes on Tg of
ABS are near 10 C (Table 1), which are similar to val-
ues obtained in PS/PVC system and higher than
PMMA/PS and PMMA/SAN systems where Tg changes
are near 2–4 C [13].
This partial miscibility does not imply a phase differ-
entiation but we obtained a material with the coexis-
tence of PC rich zones with some ABS chains included
there [14] (mainly SAN chains with low molecular
weight) and ABS rich zones characterized by the pres-
ence of some PC chains included in the SAN matrix.
Furthermore, the different changes on Tg values of the
PC and the ABS rich phase gives some information
2154 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160

1.0
420
v'1
ABS rich phase 0.8 v'2
PC rich phase
410

volume fraction
Tg Values (K)

0.6
400

0.4
390

0.2
380

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0

PC weight fraction 0 20 40 60 80 100
ABS PC wt% PC
Fig. 3. Changes on Tg values for ABS and PC rich phases.
Fig. 4. Plots of PC rich phase composition vs blend compo-
sition based on changes of glass transition temperature.

Table 1
Variation of glass transition temperatures for the SAN and PC where w, weight fraction; 1, sub-index referred to PC; 2,
rich phases with different ABS/PC blends compositions sub-index referred to SAN; 0 , super-index referred to PC
ABS wt% Tg00 (SAN rich phase) [K] Tg0 (PC rich phase) [K] rich conjugated phase; 00 , super-index referred to SAN
100 377.4 – rich conjugated phase.
90 377.6 399.4 Values of Tg for PC and SAN rich phases can help us
80 377.6 400.3 to determine weight and volume fractions of each phase,
70 379.8 403.1 according to the previous equations, referred only to
60 377.8 404.1 miscible components (PC and SAN) since butadiene
40 380.2 408.5 phase does not take part in miscibility phenomena
30 383.0 410.0 because of its net structure (Figs. 4 and 5). These results
20 384.1 414.2 are consistent with those obtained in other studies car-
10 385.5 418.9
ried out with PC/SAN and PC/ABS blends [8,10,11].
0 – 419.1
Observation of Figs. 4 and 5 is useful to conclude that
PC is able to contain higher SAN amounts, basically
due to the presence of low molecular weight species on
about the system. While Tg of the PC rich phase changes
SAN as a result of a small previous degradation during
in the whole range, Tg of the ABS rich phase remains
pre-processing and service life [14].
constant up to 0.4 volume fraction of PC and then starts
increasing with PC content.
Many authors [8,9] used the equation proposed by
1.0
Fox, with certain changes, to determine the relationship
between the Tg of a blend and the composition of the
v"1
different phases. 0.8 v"2
1 w1 w2
¼ þ ð1Þ
volume fraction

T g T g1 T g2 0.6

The previous equation is useful to determine Tg of a

blend by knowing the weight fraction of each compo- 0.4
nent and their respective Tg. It is possible to determine
compositions of the conjugated phases by making some
0.2
arranges on Eq. (1), and then, the following equations
are derived:
T g2  ðT g1
T 0g Þ 0.0
w02 ¼ ð2Þ 0 20 40 60 80 100
T 0g  ðT g1
T g2 Þ ABS PC wt% PC
T g1  ðT g
T 2 Þ
w001 ¼ ð3Þ Fig. 5. Plots of SAN rich phase composition vs blend compo-
T g  ðT g1
T g2 Þ sition based on changes of glass transition temperature.
 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160
3.3. Morphology of ABS/PC system
Morphology study of the blends becomes particularly
necessary since ABS/PC system is characterized by a
partial miscibility. The study of the morphology of frac-
ture surfaces is interesting to identify the different
phases. Presence of oxygen atoms in PC is higher than
in ABS (only degradation species contain oxygen atoms)
and it becomes a decisive tool to identify the different
phases by using EDX analysis. ABS fracture surface
(Fig. 6a) shows a homogeneous SAN matrix in which
spheres of polybutadiene with sizes 1–10 lm are ran-
domly dispersed [5]. EDX analysis of different surface
points corroborates the absence of oxygen atoms for
both SAN and polybutadiene. PC fracture surface
(Fig. 6b) shows a homogeneous phase since it is an
amorphous homopolymer but in this case, EDX analysis
in different points shows the presence of oxygen atoms.
Fig. 6. SEM micrographs of the fractured surfaces of different: (a) ABS and (b) PC wastes (·5000). EDX analysis of different points in
the fractured surface.
2155
Analysis of intermediate compositions allows to ob-
serve the heterogeneity in the peaks corresponding to
oxygen which indicates that although the difficulty in
appreciating different phases we can find PC rich zones
(Fig. 7).
As a consequence, the elastomeric phase of ABS, a
polybutadiene rubber which is homogeneously distrib-
uted, will show a different behaviour depending on the
zone, since we can observe a lack of adhesion with the
thermoplastic matrix, preferentially in the higher con-
tent zone.
3.4. Mechanical behaviour of ABS/PC system
Analysis of mechanical behaviour of ABS/PC blends
was carried out by using the Equivalent Box Model
(EBM) which has been widely used to predict mechani-
cal performance of polymer blends and is especially
2156 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160

Fig. 7. (a) SEM micrograph of the fractured surface of a 60ABS/40PC wt%, (·5000). (b) EDX analysis of different points in the
fractured surface.

appropriate for polymer blends that show low mechan-
ical performance.
EBM considers that certain fractions of each material
contribute to mechanical properties as in series work,
while other fractions contribute in parallel and can be
used to predict the tensile strength of a blend by making
some considerations. In this case, due to the relevance of
interfacial phenomena on mechanical properties [10,15–
17,19], the model allows to estimate the ranges on which
tensile strength of blends can be found. When the
 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160 2157

adhesion/interaction force along the interface is very the universal exponent, T, is located in the range
low, the coupling in series does not contribute to the sys- 1.7 < T < 1.9. Many systems use T = 1.8 with excellent
tem resistance, and then tensile stress is only defined by results [14,18,29–31]. These values remain constant in
the parallel coupling. this work, since it will permit to estimate the interaction
phenomena along the interface, and this allows knowing
rRðminÞ ¼ r1  v1p þ r2  v2p þ A  minðr1 ; r2 Þ  vs ð4Þ much more about the system structure. The evolution of
the volume fractions that contribute in series or in par-
In this expression, A is an experimental parameter
allel (Fig. 8) shows an interesting behaviour, which is re-
related to the intensity of the adhesion/interaction forces
lated to the partial miscibility of the ABS/PC system. We
along the interface [8,18]. Low A values are representa-
can appreciate a co-continuous zone in the range 82–
tive of low adhesion/interaction along the phases and
14 wt% of ABS. The same behaviour was observed in
A values close to 1 are representative of high
other blends based on glassy and also on semi-crystalline
interactions.
polymers [22].
The main problem for the application of this model is
Out of the co-continuous range (v1 < v1crit and
the calculation of the system parameters; in this case,
v1 > 1
v2crit), mechanical characteristics are defined
designed by vij (i: component, j: working way, series or
by the major component. Nevertheless, we can observe
parallel). An interesting approach is the use of the criti-
a small decrease on properties due to the inclusion effect
cal values defined by a general theory for multiphase sys-
that the minor component exerts to the system. The min-
tems, such as percolation theory [20–24] which has given
or component acts as a stress concentrator because of
good results in many polymeric systems [25–28]. These
the low interaction in this range. As we can observe in
parameters can be calculated as follows:
 T
v1
v1crit 1
v1p ¼ ð5Þ
1
v1crit 0.8
 T
v2
v2crit 2
v2p ¼ ð6Þ
parallel working volume fraction

1
v2crit
0.6
where vcrit is the percolation threshold representing the
critical volume fraction that promotes an important
change in behaviour, and T represents the critical expo- 0.4 vp
nent related to the geometry of the property variations v1p
as described in the general equation proposed by the v2p
percolation theory. 0.2

P / ðv
vcrit ÞT ð7Þ
This equation suggests that a certain property, P, in a 0.0
multiphase system is directly related to the volume frac- 0 20 40 60 80 100
tion of one component, v, regarding to a critical value, a ABS PC wt% PC

vcrit, which represents the minimum volume fraction to

0.8
accomplish certain property. This geometry is affected
by a critical exponent, T, related to the system vs
v1s
behaviour.
series working volume fraction

v2s
According to Eqs. (5) and (6), the determination of 0.6

series and parallel fractions for each component in the

blend depends on the critical values defined by percola-
tion theory, vcrit and T (percolation threshold and criti- 0.4

cal exponent, respectively). Therefore, prediction of

mechanical properties is based on the determination of
these critical values by identifying the most appropriate 0.2
lattice structure for the system (square, triangular, hex-
agonal, 3D lattices . . .). Many studies have focussed on
the determination of these critical values and generally, 0.0
0 20 40 60 80 100
values based on three-dimensional geometries give good
b ABS % peso PC PC
results, especially in heterogeneous isotropic materials
[23]. Therefore, for three-dimensional domains of spher- Fig. 8. Plots of variation of (a) parallel working fractions and
ical type of discrete nature, percolation theory estab- (b) series working fractions, by using Equivalent Box Model
lishes percolation threshold vcrit = 0.156, while value of (EBM), for different PC wt%.
2158 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160
Fig. 8, while series fractions follow a similar evolution in
both materials, the parallel fraction, which is mainly
responsible of the system stiffness, is directly related to
the weight fraction of each component (always in the
co-continuity range).
The use of EBM to predict Young modulus is not
necessary since both materials show similar values, close
to 1750–1760 MPa. As a consequence, Young modulus
of the different blend compositions fit perfectly in this
range. The use of EBM to predict tensile stress is more
useful; it gives more information about phase interaction
since we can find a big difference on tensile stress values.
As it has been previously described, it is possible to
determine A value which is related to interaction/adhe-
sion phenomena.
Results obtained for tensile stress largely depend on
interaction/adhesion along the interface, as described
in Eq. (4). The use of EBM allows to obtain a range
where we can find tensile strength values of blends. This
range is defined by the upper limit (A values close to 1
which is related to good interaction along phases and
consequently, good load transmission) and the lower
limit characterized by an absolute lack of interaction
which leads to A values close to 0 (poor load transmis-
sion) and then, the dispersed phase acts as a stress con-
centrator promoting an early fracture.
Fig. 9 shows different curves with the critical values
previously defined and different A values. As we can
observe, if there is a maximum interaction (A = 1) the
system behaviour is described by the Mixtures Rule;
we can appreciate a linear behaviour. Nevertheless, as
A values are lower we can observe a significant decrease
on tensile strength, especially in the co-continuous
range. As can be observed in Fig. 9, the evolution of
curves is similar for different A values. The only differ-
ence is the bending in the central range. High A values,
related to a good interaction, induce low curvature and
low A values promote an important curvature because
of the lack of interaction. Similar behaviour was found
in other polymeric blends which does not show a syner-
getic behaviour [18,22].
As we can expect, experimental results for tensile
strength are inside the range defined by the upper and
lower limit (A = 1 and A = 0, respectively) obtained by
using EBM. These results allow to know much more
about the system structure by comparing experimental
data with the different curves (represented by different
A values) and determining which one fits more accu-
rately with experimental results. As we can observe,
experimental data do not fit the A = 1 curve, so a certain
but not maximum interaction along the interface can be
expected. The curve that better fits experimental data is
that for A close to 0.75. These results corroborate the sit-
uation that has been previously described in the fracture
analysis of different ABS/PC samples; a fragile fracture
was observed, with evidence of certain lack of adherence
56
EBM (A=1)
EBM (A=0.75)
EBM (A=0.50)
48 EBM (A=0.25)
Tensile strength (MPa)
EBM (A=0)
Experimental data
40
32
24
16
0 20 40 60 80 100
ABS PC wt% PC
Fig. 9. Variation of tensile strength with ABS/PC blends
composition compared with predicted values based on EBM
by using percolation parameters, v1crit = v2crit = 0.159 and
T1 = T2 = 1.8.
in some areas corresponding to the elastomeric phase,
since polybutadiene is more sensitive to thermo-oxida-
tive processes related to the polyenic chain, which are
to a large extent responsible of this lack of interaction.
This situation, together with the absence of miscibility
between the polybutadiene phase and the rest of compo-
nents (SAN and PC) intensifies the behaviour of polybu-
tadiene spheres as stress concentrators which promote
fracture (Fig. 10).
All these results indicate certain adherence along
the components that constitute the blend, which is
enough to prepare materials with acceptable proper-
ties at industrial level. This optimum range is com-
prised between 10 and 20 wt% of PC. In this range,
mechanical properties are quite interesting and we
can observe a small decrease on tensile strength and
elongation at break, while stiffness remains constant.
This composition range is really interesting for two
reasons: firstly, it allows to obtain materials with
appropriate properties to be used in different industrial
areas as engineering plastics and secondly, this range
is similar to the generation ratio of these wastes which
is close to 4:1 for ABS and PC, respectively. The high
ABS content allows an easy transformation by using
similar temperatures to those used for styrenic deriva-
tives.
4. Conclusions
Blends based on ABS and PC wastes from electrical
and electronic equipment show interesting properties.
We can observe a decrease on mechanical properties
when compared with virgin materials but this does
not limit their use as engineering plastics since their
 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160 2159

Fig. 10. SEM micrographs of the fractured surface of different ABS/PC blends sowing polybutadiene spheres as stress concentrators,
·5000. (a) ABS 90/PC 10 wt%, (b) ABS 85/PC 15 wt%, (c) ABS 70/PC 30 wt%, and (d) ABS 40/PC 60 wt%.

performances are still higher to most commodities and
even some engineering plastics.
Compositions in the range 20–80 wt% PC are charac-
terized by an important decrease in both, mechanical
resistant and ductile properties. Efforts must be focussed
in the improvement of the blend homogeneity with an
increase on the interaction between components in the
interface. The use of small amounts of modified nano-
clays gives good results since they act as compatibilizers
improving the phase interaction and as a consequence,
an important increase on performance.
The composition range comprised between 10 and
20 wt% PC is most interesting in order to obtain an
industrial material with balanced properties, for differ-
ent reasons: firstly, mechanical ductile properties do
not decrease. Secondly, processing conditions are similar
to other styrenic derivatives and finally, this composition
range reflects the generation ratio of these wastes which
is close to 4:1 for ABS/PC.
A decrease on mechanical properties can be attrib-
uted to different phenomena. First of all, previous degra-
dation on materials can be the responsible of this
decrease. The presence of an elastomeric phase (a poly-
butadiene rubber dispersed in a SAN matrix), which is
especially sensitive to thermo-oxidative degradation, is
one of the most influencing factors on final performance
since its degradation promotes a decrease on adherence
with the SAN matrix acting as stress concentrators.
On the other hand, ABS/PC system shows partial
miscibility and this situation can exert the same effect
with the elastomeric phase. We found a SAN rich phase
which is not completely miscible with a PC rich phase
and the lack of adherence between these two conju-
gated phases can influence negatively on mechanical
performance.
It is possible to conclude that extrusion and injection
moulding processes are effective enough to obtain homo-
geneous blends since heating processes ensure good mix-
ing conditions and final macroscopic homogeneity. In
this case, blends based on two amorphous polymers with
similar rheological behaviour processed by injection
moulding followed by a quick cooling will not allow a
phase separation, and we will obtain a false compatibil-
ity effect, but the lack of miscibility will be observed
both by the presence of two different Tg and lower
mechanical properties.
The importance of Tg variation is not indicative of a
good compatibility since this variation can be explained
by simple physical phenomena. The low Tg polymer will
slowly increase its Tg with the other polymer content
2160 R. Balart et al. / European Polymer Journal 41 (2005) 2150–2160
since it will be surrounded by the high Tg polymer
chains. On the other hand, when the high Tg polymer
reaches its Tg value, it will be surrounded by the low
Tg polymer chains in a plastic state, and then, even by
low ratios, its presence will enable high Tg polymer
chains movement.
Regarding the use of predictive models, Equivalent
Box Model (EBM), widely used to explain many poly-
meric and composites systems, gives good results and
contributes to corroborate some hypothesis based on
the partial miscibility and low interaction along the
interface. The application of EBM to ABS/PC system
with usual parameters defined by percolation theory
gives good agreement with experimental data and is use-
ful to corroborate the lack of adherence/interaction
along the interface. The quantification of a parameter
related with interaction showed as A parameter, allows
to estimate the interaction level which is not maximum.
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