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Structure and mechanical properties of compatibilized poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene octene) blends
Author(s) -
GuerricaEchevarría G.,
Eguiazábal J.I.,
Nazábal J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.20441
Subject(s) - materials science , compatibilization , linear low density polyethylene , maleic anhydride , polymer blend , octene , polymer chemistry , ethylene , composite material , adhesion , copolymer , polymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , catalysis
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) based blends were obtained by melt blending PET with up to 30 wt% poly(ethylene‐octene) either modified with maleic anhydride (mLLDPE) or not (LLDPE). Both PET/LLDPE and PET/mLLDPE blends were immiscible. The dispersed phase particle size was large in LLDPE blends, but upon mLLDPE addition, it decreased to a small (submicron) and rather constant value with composition. This indicated compatibilization, and was attributed to specific interactions between the ester and maleic groups of PET and mLLDPE, respectively, rather than grafting reactions between components. Linear decreases in Young's modulus and yield stress, and ductility increases were observed in blends with mLLDPE. Super‐toughness was achieved in blends with mLLDPE, which took place when the critical interparticle distance (ID c ) was below 0.17 μm and with only half the cross section of the specimens broken. The ID c of these blends and those of other blends from bibliography were compared with the adhesion levels estimated from the expected main interactions between the components of the blends. This comparison strongly indicated that, at least through an adhesion range, ID c depends on the adhesion level, and that ID c decreases as the adhesion level increases. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:172–180, 2006. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers