Effects of co‐hard segments on the microstructure and properties thermoplastic poly(ether ester) elastomers

Abstract

A thermoplastic poly(ether ester) elastomer (TPEE) is composed of polyester hard segments and polyether soft segments. Polyester and polyether segments are often homopolymer segments. This work aims at incorporating poly(butylene phthalate (PBP) as co-hard segments in the hard segments of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)-b-poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) thermoplastic elastomer, and investigating structures and properties of the resulting materials, denoted as (PBT-co-PBP)-b-PTMO. (PBT-co-PBP)-b-PTMO was synthesized from dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), PTMO (M n 5 1000 g/mol), and 1,4-butanediol (BDO). The crystallinity of (PBT-co-PBP)-b-PTMO first decreased and then increased with increasing PBP content from 5% to 10% due to a decrease in the average sequence length of the PBT hard segments. Its elongation at break was increased by 200-350%. When the mass fractions of PBT and PBP were 42% and 8%, respectively, the (PBT-co-PBP)-b-PTMO showed the best performance in terms of permanent deformation, strength, and hardness whose values were 30%, 25 MPa, and 37 D, respectively. All the synthesized copolymers had good thermal stability with a decomposition temperature of 4008C or so. V C 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43337.

High-Expansion Injection-Molded Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer Foam with Oriented Cellular Structure and Anisotropic Compressive Properties

“…Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are typically block copolymers, comprising two or more distinct structural units. These polymers exhibit flexibility akin to conventional vulcanized rubber, yet retain the capability for reprocessing. − A notable subclass within this category is the thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE), which generally consists of aromatic polyesters (crystalline phase) as the hard segments and aliphatic polyesters or polyethers (continuous phase) as the soft segments. − The mechanical properties, hardness, and melting temperature of TPEE, akin to other TPEs, can be modulated by varying the ratio of soft to hard segments. − Since its development, TPEE has been widely utilized due to its excellent comprehensive properties including high tensile strength, unparalleled toughness and resilience, robust chemical resistance, as well as considerable weather resistance. − Additionally, TPEE maintains operational integrity in a wide temperature range: it can withstand temperatures exceeding 100 °C for an extended period of time and retain good flexibility in conditions as low as −40 °C . Consequently, TPEE finds frequent application in the fabrication of materials for automobile manufacturing, sportswear, and sound attenuation.…”

Utility of Chemical Upcycling in Transforming Postconsumer PET to PBT-Based Thermoplastic Copolyesters Containing a Renewable Fatty-Acid-Derived Soft Block

“…TPCs are multiblock copolymers comprising alternating rigid and flexible segments. , They are found in an enormous array of engineering plastic applications, owing to the broad range of accessible properties . The rigid segment in TPCs is typically a semicrystalline or glassy polyester . The flexible counterpart in TPCs is typically a long chain polyol (500–3000 g/mol) having a low glass transition temperature ( T g ). , The primary handles for fine-tuning the final properties include the composition (i.e., soft/hard ratio), the polyol molar mass, and the chemo-mechanical properties of the soft block.…”

“… 28 The rigid segment in TPCs is typically a semicrystalline or glassy polyester. 29 The flexible counterpart in TPCs is typically a long chain polyol (500–3000 g/mol) having a low glass transition temperature ( T g ). 30 , 31 The primary handles for fine-tuning the final properties include the composition (i.e., soft/hard ratio), the polyol molar mass, and the chemo-mechanical properties of the soft block.…”