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Role of 2‐hydroxyethyl end group on the thermal degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and reactive melt mixing of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene naphthalate) blends
Author(s) -
Blanco Ignazio,
Cicala Gianluca,
Restuccia Carmelo Luca,
Latteri Alberta,
Battiato Salvatore,
Scamporrino Andrea,
Samperi Filippo
Publication year - 2012
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.23206
Subject(s) - transesterification , materials science , ethylene , copolymer , thermal stability , polymer chemistry , thermal decomposition , chemical engineering , isothermal process , glass transition , dimethyl terephthalate , decomposition , polyester , composite material , organic chemistry , catalysis , polymer , chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
In an attempt to minimize the acetaldehyde formation at the processing temperatures (280–300°C) and the outer–inner transesterification reactions in the poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET)–poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) melt‐mixed blends, the hydroxyl chain ends of PET were capped using benzoyl chloride. The thermal characterization of the melt‐mixed PET–PEN blends at 300°C, as well as that of the corresponding homopolymers, was performed. Degradations were carried out under dynamic heating and isothermal conditions in both flowing nitrogen and static air atmosphere. The initial decomposition temperatures ( T i ) were determined to draw useful information about the overall thermal stability of the studied compounds. Also, the glass transition temperature ( T g ) was determined by finding data, indicating that the end‐capped copolymers showed a higher degradation stability compared to the unmodified PET and, when blended with PEN, seemed to be efficient in slowing the kinetic of transesterification leading to, for a finite time, the formation of block copolymers, as determined by 1 H‐NMR analysis. This is strong and direct evidence that the end‐capping of the OH chain ends influences the mechanism and the kinetic of transesterification. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers