| abstract |
A process for the for the preparation of dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers is described. The process comprises melt processing under high shear conditions A) at least one thermoplastic engineering resin, B) at least one vulcanizable rubber, C) a curing agent or curing agents, and D) at least one additional thermoplastic engineering resin in the form of solid particles having an effective diameter of not less than 0.05 mm, wherein said solid particles D) are added to a molten mass of A), B) before, during or after the addition of C) but prior to substantial completion of the vulcanization of B). The process provides a means to avoid substantial degradation or unwanted cross-linking of the thermoplastic engineering resin and provides a means of controlling the reaction temperature during the curing, vulcanization, or cross-linking of the rubber. |