Improvement of compatibility of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene octene) blends by γ‐irradiation

Abstract

Blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(ethylene octene) (POE) were prepared by melt blending with various amounts of trimethylolpropane triacylate (TMPTA). The mechanical properties, phase morphologies, and gel fractions at various absorbed doses of c-irradiation have been investigated. It was found that the toughness of blends was enhanced effectively after irradiation as well as the tensile properties. The elongation at break for all studied PET/POE blends (POE being up to 15 wt %) with 2 wt % TMPTA reached 250-400% at most absorbed doses of c-irradiation, approximately 50-80 times of those of untreated PET/POE blends. The impact strength of PET/POE (85/15 wt/wt) blends with 2 wt % TMPTA irradiated with as little as 30 kGy absorbed dose exceeded 17 kJ/m 2 , being approximately 3.4 times of those of untreated blends. The improvement of the mechanical properties was supported by the morphology changes. Scanning electron microscope images of fracture surfaces showed a smaller dispersed phase and more indistinct inter-phase boundaries in the irradiated blends. This indicates increased compatibility of PET and POE in the PET/POE blends. The changes of the morphologies and the enhancement of the mechanical properties were ascribed to the enhanced inter-phase boundaries by the formation of complex graft structures confirmed by the results of the gelation extraction and Fourier Transform Infrared analyses.

Improving the properties of reclaimed waste tire rubber by blending with poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) and electron beam irradiation

“…Similar observations have been reported by previous studies (Ratnam et al, 2014, Sakinah et al, 2011. The faster reach to highest tensile strength values recorded by EVA/TMPTA is due to relatively high reactivity of trifunctional acrylates (Yin et al, 2013). Drastic drop in tensile strength of EVA/TMPTA after the optimal irradiation dose of 50 kGy was observed due to higher extent of crosslinking, causing embrittlement of EVA matrix (Sujit et al, 1996, Martínez-Pardo andVera-Graziano, 1995).…”

“…The chemical structure of all three radiation sensitizers are shown in Figure 6.1. The loading of the radiation sensitizers has been set to 4 phr based on previous studies (Du et al, 2005, Yin et al, 2013, Dutta et al, 1996. Presence of radiation sensitizers would allow for faster reach to optimal irradiation dose and also reduce the undesired effect of oxidative degradation.…”

Rubber toughened recycled polyethylene terephthalate for material extrusion additive manufacturing

“…The addition of 5% maleic anhydride functionalized SEBS (SEBS-MA) and EPR doubled and tripled the impact strength, respectively, compared to neat PET/PE and elongation to break increased 10-fold while tensile strength remained constant. 38 Yin et al examined the effect of γ-irradiation on the toughness of PET/polyethylene octane blends with trimethylolpropane triacylate (TMPTA) compatabilizer. Trends in increased elongation at break and impact strength were consistent, with highest values observed with 2% TMPTA and 10-50 kGy.…”

In-situ Enhanced Toughening of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/elastomer Blends via Gamma-Ray Radiation at Presence of Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate

“…The similar radiation enhancement effect occurred in another polymer blend system, PET/HDPE blend containing a small amount of TMPTA (≤3wt%) [24]. The readily crosslinking of POE and HDPE by the crosslinking agent TMPTA under γ-ray radiation was considered to be the main contribution for the enhancement of mechanical properties of the radiated blends [24,30].…”

“…Deng et al melt-blended PET and poly(ethylene octene) (POE) with various amounts of trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA). The impact strength of the PET/POE (85/15, W /W ) blend with 2wt% of TMPTA could increase approximately 3.4 times after the blend was irradiated by γ-ray radiation at an absorbed dose of 30 kGy [30]. The similar radiation enhancement effect occurred in another polymer blend system, PET/HDPE blend containing a small amount of TMPTA (≤3wt%) [24].…”