Self‐healing thermoplastic elastomeric blends of zinc‐ionomer and styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer and their characterization.

We report the development of novel self‐healing binary thermoplastic elastomeric blends of Zn2+‐neutralized poly[ethylene‐co‐(methacrylic acid)] (Zn‐ionomer) and styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer (SBS). Zn‐ionomer/SBS blends were prepared by the melt‐blending technique using a twin‐screw extruder with three mass ratios of 75/25, 50/50 and 25/75. Structure, phase morphology and thermal as well as tensile properties of the samples were characterized. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results indicated the presence of two types of polymeric materials and their interactions. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the miscibility of blend components which remarkably influenced the properties of the blends. The optimum peak degradation temperature of Zn‐ionomer/SBS (75/25 wt%) blend was observed to be 484 °C. The ratio of the tensile strength of the healed specimens to that of the original specimens was implemented to quantitatively evaluate the self‐healing efficiency of the materials. The self‐healing efficiencies were calculated to be 55.42%, 58.36% and 60.75% for Zn‐ionomer samples healed for 4, 8 and 16 h, respectively. All of the blend samples exhibited self‐healing behavior and the self‐healing efficiency was more than that of virgin Zn‐ionomer which may be credited to the high mobility of SBS segments in the blends. The healing efficiency was increased with an increase of SBS content in the blends and also heat energy facilitated the healing process. The self‐healing efficiencies of Zn‐ionomer/SBS (25/75 wt%) blend sample were calculated to be 75.09%, 80.27% and 80.87%, respectively, for 4, 8 and 16 h of healing time at 100 °C. A comparison of optical micrographs of the cut area of samples (before healing and after the healing process) was also made and self‐healing of the blend materials was observed. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]