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In situ ATR‐FTIR Spectroscopy of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Subjected to High‐Temperature Methanol
Author(s) -
Andanson JeanMichel,
Kazarian Sergei G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200850521
Subject(s) - crystallinity , attenuated total reflection , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , materials science , arrhenius plot , methanol , infrared spectroscopy , ethylene , polymer , arrhenius equation , activation energy , analytical chemistry (journal) , conformational isomerism , spectroscopy , polymer chemistry , chemistry , chemical engineering , molecule , organic chemistry , composite material , catalysis , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Summary: In situ ATR‐FTIR (attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy combined with a high‐pressure cell has been applied to measure IR spectra of polymers subjected to superheated or near‐critical methanol (100– 200 °C). Spectra of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) have been measured under exposure to high temperature methanol using this ATR‐FTIR approach to understand at a molecular level the recycling process of PET. The evolution of the structure and the morphology of the polymer has been studied during the methanolysis. The quantity of trans PET conformer is generally used as a tracer of the crystallinity of PET. During depolymerisation of PET the evolution of crystallinity and of trans conformer appears to be different. The dependence of the rate constant on reaction temperature was correlated by Arrhenius plot, which shows activation energy of 5.8 kJ/mol.