Comprehensive Study of Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)/Na‐Ionomer Blend System on Morphological, Thermal, Mechanical, Thermo‐Mechanical, and Flame Retardance Behavior

ABSTRACT A new blend system comprising polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and ionomer based on poly(ethylene‐methacrylic acid) partially neutralized by sodium ions has been developed and investigated the blend's morphological, thermal, mechanical, thermo‐mechanical, and flame retardance behavior. The blend system shows two different phase morphology: sea‐island type morphology when ionomer content is up to 20 wt% and formation of fibrous structure morphology with more than 30 wt% Na‐ionomer content. TGA analysis shows the gradual decrease in thermal stability of the PPS matrix as the Na‐ionomer content increases. In contrast, DSC analysis reveals the presence of a cold crystallization peak, with no changes in the melting temperature of the PPS matrix. There is no change in the glass transition temperature of PPS, and the increase in tan δ values of DMA analysis indicates improved damping capacity (flexibility) of PPS blends. The Na‐ionomer blending enhances the elongation at a break and impact strength of the blends, that is, reflecting the improvement of about 180% in elongation at break and 162% of impact strength for the 50 wt% ratio. No effect on flame‐rating is observed up to 30 wt% ionomer.