Nanocomposites based on aromatic polyesters and organically modified clay

Abstract

Milled polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) were mixed with organically modified clay and extruded to prepare nanocomposites by melt intercalation. The modifier of the nanofiller belongs to the group of trialkylbenzylammonium cations. Manufacturing of the materials was carried out with a co-rotating twin-screw-extruder at 230°C and 240°C for PTT and PBT, respectively. A concentration of 3% of the inorganic filler component in the composites was aimed at. The influence of mechanical stress during extrusion on the stability of the neat polymers was tested at different speeds of rotation between 100 rpm and 800 rpm. The composites were characterized with regard to the experimental filler content and the properties of the matrix polymers like melt and crystallization temperatures, degrees of crystallinity, intrinsic viscosities, and melt viscosities. Additionally, mechanical properties were analyzed by tensile tests and discussed in term s of processing and the filler presence. The dominance of PBT as polymer matrix was highlighted

Preparation of PTT/clay nanocomposites with solid‐state polymerized polytrimethylene terephthalate

“…PTT(SSP) prepared at 210°C was extruded with an OMC, modified with benzyldimethylstearylammonium cations, to manufacture composites with 3% of inorganic clay material. Based on the results of the first series of experiments,47 extrusion was performed at 200 and 400 rpm. The experimental contents of inorganic fillers in the composites, examined by pyrolysis, are presented in Table III.…”

“…Therefore, polyester degradation has to be expected during extrusion, preferably at higher speeds of rotation 45. Manufacturing of aromatic polyesters like PET, PTT, and PBT in the presence of organically modified clays forces degradation of the polyesters 46, 47. Polymer degradation lowers polymer melt viscosity and works counterproductive with respect to the preparation of OMC‐nanocomposites by melt compounding.…”

“…The main objective of this work is the preparation of PTT(SSP)‐based nanocomposites via melt compounding according to the experiments described in Ref 47…”

Process–structure–property relationships in poly(butylene terephthalate) nanocomposites

“…It is the most economically viable approach for continuous processes and large-scale uses (Acierno et al, 2011;Engelmann et al, 2013). It is the most economically viable approach for continuous processes and large-scale uses (Acierno et al, 2011;Engelmann et al, 2013).…”

“…Engelmann et al (2013) suggested that the extrusion chamber required rinsing with nitrogen under reduced pressure to protect the polyester melts against oxidation and to remove volatile by-products. Manufacturing of the PBT/ clay nanocomposite was carried out with a co-rotating twin-screw-extruder at 240 °C.…”