Mechanical and thermal properties of SEBS‐g‐MA compatibilized halloysite nanotubes reinforced polyethylene terephthalate/polycarbonate/nanocomposites

Abstract

In this study, the effect of maleic anhydride grafted styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene (SEBS‐g‐MA) content on mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of polyethylene terephthalate/polycarbonate/halloysite nanotubes (PET/PC/HNTs) nanocomposites has been investigated. Nanocomposites of PET/PC (70 : 30) with 2 phr of HNTs were compounded using the counter rotating twin screw extruder. A series of formulations were prepared by adding 5–20 phr SEBS‐g‐MA to the composites. Incorporation of 5 phr SEBS‐g‐MA into the nanocomposites resulted in the highest tensile and flexural strength. Maximum improvement in the impact strength which is 245% was achieved at 10 phr SEBS‐g‐MA content. The elongation at break increased proportionately with the SEBS‐g‐MA content. However, the tensile and flexural moduli decreased with increasing SEBS‐g‐MA content. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a transition from a brittle fracture to ductile fracture morphology with increasing amount of SEBS‐g‐MA. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the addition of SEBS‐g‐MA into the nanocomposites promoted a better dispersion of HNTs in the matrix. A single glass transition temperature was observed from the differential scanning calorimetry test for compatibilized nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis of PET/PC/HNTs nanocomposites showed high thermal stability at 15 phr SEBS‐g‐MA content. However, on further addition of SEBS‐g‐MA up to 20 phr, thermal stability of the nanocomposites decreased due to the excess amount of SEBS‐g‐MA. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42608.

Effects of halloysite nanotubes on the mechanical, thermal, and flammability properties of PP‐g‐MAH compatibilized polyethylene terephthalate/polypropylene nanocomposites

“…The penetration of these materials inside the tubes would form intertubular interactions between HNTs and matrix. This observation is consistent with the report of Jamaluddin et al .…”

“…Several studies on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) blends with other polymers such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyamide 6 (PA6), polystyrene (PS), and Polycarbonate has been investigated . The combination of polypropylene (PP) with PET offers some advantages due to the attractive properties of PP such as low density and high moisture resistance.…”

Effect of copolymers containing glycidyl methacrylate functional groups on the rheological, mechanical, and morphological properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

“…An improvement in the stability during processing and, hence, in many other properties, may be achieved by blending PET with other polymers or copolymers , forming polymer blends. The addition of chemically active copolymers to PET is an effective way of modifying its properties and thus, obtaining desirable results.…”

Excellent impact strength of ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer toughened polycarbonate

“…One method, which has been successful in toughening notch-sensitive polymers such as PC, is rubber toughening. 3,[20][21][22][23] However, these problems can be partly solved by blending PC with a miscible elastomer, decreasing the glass transition temperature and processing temperature. Several studies have been carried out to develop effective toughening methods to improve the impact strength, processability and solvent resistance of PC.…”