Development of an FTIR-DSC-based quantification method for component ratio determination in ABS/PC polymer blends

Due to the distinct properties of both components constituting Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene/Polycarbonate (ABS/PC) polymer blends, the ratio of the polymers in the blend significantly impacts the characteristics of the final product. Furthermore, the taxation of ABS/PC polymer blends in commercial circulation is determined based on these blend ratios. In this study, a preliminary quantitative analytical method was developed to determine polymer ratios in ABS/PC blends, intended for industrial quality control and customs taxation. The developed method was established based on Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analytical data. Within the scope of the study, granular ABS and PC polymers were mixed at various ratios using a twin-screw extruder to prepare a total of six polymer blends. FTIR and DSC analyses were performed on the produced samples. In the FTIR analysis, the height and area values of specific polymer peaks were examined, while in the DSC analysis, the glass transition temperatures and changes in heat capacity were evaluated. The statistical results highlighted a significant relationship between the polymer blend ratios and the combined data from FTIR and DSC parameters. Although both linear and non-linear regression models were initially developed, the non-linear equations were found to provide a better fit. Given their higher determination coefficients (R2 > 0.99) and capacity to handle the complex structure of the data compared to linear approximations, these equations were adopted as the primary calculation method.