Unlocking High-Performance Blends: Navigating the Selection of GMA and MAH as Reactive Compatibilizers

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and maleic anhydride (MAH) are among the most extensively utilized reactive monomers for polymer blend modification. The matching degree between these monomers and polymer end groups directly determines the interface bonding quality and the comprehensive properties of the materials. In this paper, the differences in molecular structural characteristics, reaction thermodynamics, and reaction kinetics between GMA and MAH are systematically reviewed, with a particular focus on the differences in reaction efficiency and reaction mechanisms exhibited by the two monomers in polymer systems such as polyamide (PA), polyester (PBT/PLA/R-PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyolefins, and Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS). The interaction mechanisms and regulation strategies between these two monomers and processing aids (e.g., antioxidants, UV stabilizers, and flame retardants) are further investigated, while the reaction priority of their synergistic competition and optimized application schemes are clarified. Moreover, the application advances of GMA/MAH in fields such as automotive, electrical and electronic appliances, and packaging are summarized. Furthermore, current challenges in polymer systems—including insufficient monitoring of microscale reactions and poor compatibility with complex additive systems—are identified, and future directions such as the development of multifunctional composite compatibilizers and the optimization of green processing technologies are outlined. In turn, this work provides theoretical support and technical references for the precision selection, formulation optimization, and industrial application of GMA and MAH in polymer blend modification.