APPLICATION INFORMATIONTOUGHNESS MODIFICATION OF POLYAMIDE COMPOUNDS

TP-A 6

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Toughness modification of polyamide compounds

Contents
03 The challenge
04 The solution
06 Superior toughness modification
07 Concentrate approach for maximum formulation
freedom and cost optimization
09 Excellent low temperature impact
09 Conclusion

03

The challenge
Polyamide, especially PA6 and PA6.6, has a broad range of applications includingtransportation, construction, and electronic applications. The brittleness ofpolyamide is one of its key limitations. To access a broad range of applications,from extruded sheets for construction to automotive under the hood applications,polyamide needs a toughness modifier.
For general purpose and low-cost toughness modification, terpolymers and coreshell particles are frequently used. However, those technologies provide only minor
improvement in impact strength, with notched Charpy impact strength notexceeding 20 kJ/m².
To increase impact beyond this level, three key challenges need to be addressed:• Efficient uptake of the impact load
• Proper energy dissipation• Prevention of crack propagation
This requires interfacial compatibility between the polyamide matrix and impact
modifier as well as effective dispersion of the elastomer phase.

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Toughness modification of polyamide compounds

The solution
SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL has reactive moieties, enabling
it to act as an amphiphilic compatibilizer, thus building atenside molecule with the base polyamide duringcompounding. This compatibilization reduces the interfacial
tension between the polyolefin elastomer phase and thebrittle polyamide matrix as well as improving dispersion ofthe elastomer phase. It must be emphasized that reactive
blending of polyamides with polyolefins requires sufficient
shear energy and optimized screw design.

SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL
Product typeMaleic-Anhydride-Grafted
Polyolefin Elastomer
Application
Polyamide Compounds
Key benefits• Superior toughness modification• Concentrate approach formaximum formulation freedom andcost optimization• Excellent low temperature impact

Compatibility enhancement mechanism of SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL
Amphiphilic compatibilizer “tenside molecule”
SCONA modifier

Unpolar part

*Polar part

Polyamide

Acidic/Anhydride group   

Amine group   SCONA modifier    

Polyamide    * Simplified reaction scheme with the amine end-group, however the internal amide groups can also take part in the reaction.

G. 01

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Toughness modification of polyamide compounds / The solution

The degree of functionalization of SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL
is up to three times higher than conventional impact
modifiers for polyamide. This enables either superior
toughening or the flexibility to combine it with virgin POE(polyolefin elastomer) for cost optimization. To takeadvantage of this degree of functionalization, high shear
forces during compounding are required to ensure proper
dispersion.

SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL is a maleic-anhydride-grafted POE
with an exceptionally high level of grafting resulting in keybenefits:• Superior toughness modification• Concentrate approach for maximum formulation freedom
and cost optimization• Excellent low temperature impact

Good dispersion for high impact performance
Poor dispersion:
Low impact performance

EP

Good dispersion:
High impact performanceEP

Unpolar part
Brittle matrix: Elastomeric particle (EP)*Polar partEPEP* Simplified reaction scheme with the amine end-group, however the internal amide groups can also take part in the reaction

G. 02

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Toughness modification of polyamide compounds

Superior toughness modification
Grafted-POE performance impact vs. dosage level
Impact strength of SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL vs.
other additives
Notched charpy impact strength (kJ/m2)

As previously mentioned, typical terpolymers do not provide
notched Charpy impact strength exceeding 20 kJ/m².
Additionally, typical grafted elastomers can only exceed thatabove 10 % dosage. In contrast, SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL
provides almost 30 kJ/m² at 6 % dosage, making it almost twice
as effective. At 10 % dosage, SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLLprovides a 350 % increase in impact performance versus
competitive technologies.

7060504030
20
1000%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10 %

12 %

14 %

16 %

Dosage of modifier in PA6 compound
Competitive material: grafted elastomer   SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL   

Competitive material: Ethylene-acrylic-MAH-terpolymer

G. 03

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Toughness modification of polyamide compounds

Concentrate approach for maximum formulation freedom
and cost optimization

The blue space in figure 4 between SCONA TSPOE 1002 CMB 1– 2(blended product) and SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL (unblendedproduct) shows the flexibility of this technology. By diluting
SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL with virgin POE, a compounder canachieve superior impact performance and benefit from costsavings.

Grafted-POE performance impact vs. dosage level
Increased impact strength range using SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL and
SCONA TSPOE 1002 CMB 1–2
Notched charpy impact strength (kJ/m2)

SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL is a superior toughener for polyamide
and due to its high grafting level, it can be diluted withunmodified POE and/or a polyethylene copolymer to meeta wide range of required impact performance. BYK offers
such a blended product, SCONA TSPOE 1002 CMB 1– 2, that
demonstrates this concept. Figure 4 highlights the improved
performance of the blended product versus the competition.

7060
50403020
1000%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10 %

12 %

14 %

16 %

Dosage of modifier in PA6 compound
Competitive material: grafted elastomer   Competitive material: Ethylene-acrylic-MAH-terpolymer

SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL   	SCONA TSPOE 1002 CMB 1–2

G. 04

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Toughness modification of polyamide compounds / Concentrate approach for maximum formulation freedom and cost optimizationOptimized total cost using SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL and SCONA TSPOE 1002 CMB 1–2
Concentrate approach

Polyamide

Relative cost comparsion

Super-tough polyamide compoundCost

Most costeffective
1 part 
SCONA TSPOE
1002 GBLL+2 parts virgin
POE

Competitor

SCONA TSPOE
1002 GBLL

Virgin POE

SCONA/POE
(1:2)

G. 05

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Toughness modification of polyamide compounds

Excellent low temperature
impactGood low temperature performance is critical to any
application using polyamide. SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL andSCONA TSPOE 1002 CMB 1– 2 both ensure impact strengthimprovement down to -40 °C. Figure 6 demonstrates
increased impact performance of these two SCONA products
at loadings of 15 weight%. Compared to virgin polyamide 6,
notched Charpy impact strength is increased by almost
one order of magnitude.

Conclusion

Improved low temperature impact performance of PA6
Notched Charpy impact strength(kJ/m2)@ Room temp.

@ -40 °C

90.0

10.0

80.0

9.0
8.0

70.0

7.0

60.0

6.0

50.0

SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL is an impact modifier forpolyamide compounds resulting in superior toughness
improvement in polyamide compounds in temperatures
down to -40 °C. Due to its high content of functionalgroups, it can be used as a concentrate and diluted withvirgin (unmodified) polyolefin elastomer to provide both
performance flexibility and cost optimization.

5.0
40.0

4.0

30.0

3.0

20.0

2.0

10.0

1.0
0.0

0.0
Pure PA6-40 °C   

Room temperature

PA6 + 15 %SCONA TSPOE 1002 GBLL

PA6 + 15 %SCONA TSPOE 1002 CMB 1–2
G. 06

10/2021
TP-A 6BYK-Chemie GmbHP.O. Box 10 02 4546462 Wesel
GermanyTel +49 281 670-0Fax +49 281 65735

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This issue replaces all previous versions.