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Melt processing and filler/matrix interphase in carbon nanotube reinforced poly(ether‐ester) thermoplastic elastomer
Author(s) -
Broza Georg,
Schulte Karl
Publication year - 2008
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.21075
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , crystallinity , carbon nanotube , extrusion , elastomer , thermoplastic , thermoplastic elastomer , masterbatch , nucleation , copolymer , polymer , nanocomposite , chemistry , organic chemistry
Multiblock poly(ether‐ester) thermoplastic elastomers (PBT/PTMO) are based on semicrystalline poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and amorphous oxytetramethylene (PTMO) blocks. The copolymer was compounded with a filler content up to 10 wt% multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via a masterbatch process, which included milling, high shear mixing in the melt, and extrusion using a twin‐srew extruder. From the compound several compositions of PBT/PTMO with 0.1–2.0 wt% of MWCNTs were prepared. Differential scanning calorimeter analysis showed that the fillers enhance initiation of recrystallisation, i.e. accelerate the nucleation of crystalline segments of PBT/PTMO. The morphology of the obtained nano‐composites shows that MWCNTs are well dispersed in the matrix. Only some discrete nanotubes, apparently protruding from the matrix, could be distinguished on the fracture surface, still covered with a thin interphase matrix layer of PBT/PTMO. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers