Premium
Compatibility study in poly(tetramethyleneadipate‐ co ‐terephthalate)/polystyrene bioblends
Author(s) -
Biresaw Girma,
Mohamed Abdellatif,
Gordon Sherald H.,
HarryO'kuru Rogers E.,
Carriere Craig C.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.28893
Subject(s) - thermogravimetric analysis , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , differential scanning calorimetry , materials science , polystyrene , thermal stability , polymer chemistry , polymer blend , chemical engineering , polymer , composite material , copolymer , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
Bioblends of the biodegradable copolyester poly(tetramethyleneadipate‐ co ‐terephthalate) (EBU) and polystyrene (PS) were prepared in different weight compositions on a twin‐screw extruder at 160–200°C. The various bioblend compositions were then investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), and Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR‐PAS). TGA studies showed that 25/75 and 50/50 EBU/PS blends had higher thermal stability than the more thermally stable blend component, PS. The MDSC studies showed a single T g and single T m for the blends, that were concentration independent. The FTIR‐PAS studies indicated a small shift (4–8 cm −1 ) in the carbonyl absorption peaks of EBU to lower wavenumbers in 50/50 EBU/PS blend relative to that of neat EBU. It is concluded that, while the MDSC results were inconclusive, the TGA and FTIR‐PAS results support the existence of some degree of intermolecular interaction between EBU and PS components and, hence, partial compatibility in EBU/PS blends. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008