Construction of sacrificial network in styrene-ethylene/butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer composites and their mechanical behaviors

Herein, benefiting from effective energy-dissipation mechanism, the high-performance thermoplastic elastomers (ZASM/SEBS composites) with excellent mechanical strength-toughness combination were prepared by blending 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole (ATA), maleic anhydride grafted styrene-ethylene/butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS-g-MA), zinc acetate and styrene-ethylene/butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS) successively. The Zn2+-carboxyl coordination and hydrogen bonding dual-dynamic network of composites was proved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The mechanical performance of ZASM/SEBS composites was investigated by tensile test. With the decreasing mass ratio of ZASM in ZASM/SEBS composites, the tensile strength and elongation at break increased firstly and then decreased. When the mass ratio of ZASM in composites was 30%, the tensile strength reached 32.1 MPa along with the elongation at break of 1383%, attaining the best mechanical strength-toughness combination. It is demonstrated that the ZASM/SEBS composites could be a promising substitute for traditional vulcanized rubber.

Automated summary

The high-performance thermoplastic elastomers (ZASM/SEBS composites) were prepared by blending 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole, SEBS-g-MA, zinc acetate, and SEBS successively, showing excellent mechanical strength-toughness combination. The mechanical performance of the composites was investigated by tensile test, demonstrating that with decreasing ZASM ratio, tensile strength and elongation at break first increased and then decreased, with the best performance achieved at 30% ZASM ratio.