The impact properties of core-shell acrylate (CS-ACR)/ chlorinated polyethylene (CPE)/poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) blends under different temperatures were investigated. The fracture surface morphologies of the blends were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that there exists significant synergistic effect between CS-ACR particles and CPE in toughening PVC, and the impact properties of the blends generally correlate well with SEM morphologies. Besides, with increasing CS-ACR content, ductile-brittle transition point of the ternary blends remarkably shifts to a lower temperature. Dynamic mechanical analysis exhibited that intensity and area of low-temperature tan delta peaks of the CPE/PVC blends increase obviously after the addition of CS-ACR particles, which to some extent are just in line with the changes in impact strength and ductile-brittle transition point of the blends. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:295-301, 2010. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers