Effects of compatibilizers and blending methods on the properties of PC/ABS composites

Abstract This study systematically investigates the interfacial properties and mechanical performance of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) composites, which are crucial for automotive and electronic applications. By employing three distinct compatibilizers – styrene-acrylonitrile-glycidyl methacrylate (SAG), methyl methacrylate- butadiene-styrene (MBS), and cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer (CBT) – and comparing one-step with two-step methods, we identified the critical role of both compatibilizer chemistry and processing strategy. The results demonstrate that the two-step method with SAG achieves superior compatibilization, yielding an optimal impact strength of 60.37 kJ/m 2 and an elongation at break of 92 %. This enhancement is ascribed to the formation of covalent “chemical bridges” by SAG at the PC/ABS interface. In contrast, the non-reactive MBS and CBT compatibilizers, which rely on physical-chemical synergy and rheological wetting respectively, provided comparatively weaker improvements. This work elucidates the underlying mechanisms and provides a practical guideline for tailoring high-performance PC/ABS composites through selective compatibilization and processing.