March 12, 2025 – SEBS, a high-performance elastomer material, has garnered significant attention due to its highly saturated main chain. Compared to SBS, SEBS undergoes a hydrogenation process on its polybutadiene blocks, resulting in a tightly entangled structure that exhibits enhanced crosslinking effects per unit volume, thereby imparting high modulus and exceptional degradation resistance. This unique attribute sets SEBS apart within the realm of styrene block copolymer elastomers.
The high saturation of SEBS’s main chain not only bolsters its stability, heat resistance, oxidation resistance, weatherability, and solvent resistance but also extends its application across multiple industries. From adhesives, coatings, and plastic modifications to automotive components, wires and cables, food packaging, medical devices, and recreational products, SEBS showcases its distinct advantages.
Moreover, SEBS excels in blending capabilities, efficiently mixing with various polymers such as polypropylene and polystyrene, markedly improving the impact resistance of the materials. According to the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, the SEBS-g-MAH modified PA/PP system stands out among the numerous applications of SEBS. The amide groups on the PA main chain form hydrogen bonds due to their strong polarity, facilitating crystallization and endowing PA with excellent wear and solvent resistance. However, this also leads to increased moisture absorption and decreased dimensional stability.
To address these challenges, researchers have introduced PP and SEBS-g-MAH into the PA system. The addition of PP not only reduces costs but also enhances the impact performance of PA. SEBS-g-MAH, acting as a compatibilizer, reacts through its maleic anhydride groups with the amide groups on the PA main chain, significantly strengthening the interfacial adhesion. Experiments have demonstrated that the rigid SEBS-g-MAH serves as a more efficient compatibilizer in blends than the flexible EPDM-g-MAH. It not only substantially boosts the strength and toughness of PP/PA6 blends but also maintains their hardness.
In the PP/PA/SEBS-g-MAH system, by precisely controlling the ingredient ratios, blend materials with excellent balance between rigidity and toughness can be prepared. Furthermore, functionalization of SEBS significantly enhances its compatibility with specific systems, further broadening its application scope.
In summary, SEBS and its modified products have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique properties and wide range of applications. With ongoing research and technological advancements, the future prospects for SEBS applications appear even more promising.