Plasma‐Modified Waste Tire Dust for Toughened MBS Composites Morphology, Thermal Stability, and Mechanical Performance

ABSTRACT

Waste tire dust (WTD) was surface‐modified through plasma polymerization of styrene and incorporated into poly(methyl methacrylate–butadiene–styrene) (MBS) composites prepared by free‐radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene in the presence of polybutadiene rubber. The influence of plasma‐modified WTD (WTDPSty) content on polymerization behavior, morphology, thermal stability, and mechanical performance was investigated. Plasma modification improved the dispersion of WTD within the polymer matrix and promoted salami‐type morphologies characteristic of impact‐resistant MBS systems. The composites containing WTDPSty exhibited improved impact strength and mechanical performance compared with untreated WTD composites. Thermal analysis revealed that the synthesized composites maintained thermal stability above 340°C despite the incorporation of WTD and WTDPSty. The results suggest that plasma treatment improved the interfacial compatibility between WTD and the MBS matrix, representing a promising strategy for waste tire valorization in high‐impact polymer composites.