Abstract
Environmentally friendly polymer blends between post-consumer PET-G and bio-based poly(ethylene 2,5 furanoate) (PEF) have been prepared. The PET-G granules were obtained from the post-consumer glycol-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) PET-G foils from Nicrometal S.A. as a result of materials recycling. PEF was synthesized from dimethyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate and 1,2-ethylene glycol (BioUltra) by a two-stage melt polycondensation process. According to the calculations followed by Hoy’s method, one has studied the miscibility of the components in the blend. The molecular structure of PET-G/PEF blends was analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, while the morphology of the blends was determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). To evaluate phase transition temperatures, as well as the thermal effects in PET-G/PEF blends, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), were performed. Tensile tests revealed that along with an increase in the amount of PEF, an increase in Young’s modulus was observed. Besides, the existence of interfacial interactions between polymers, especially in the case of PET-G/PEF 80/20, enabling the PET-G chains to form a network structure with the PEF by reacting with their functional groups, allows observation of a synergistic effect in the improvement of thermal stability and water absorption.
Highlights
Polymer blending is an efficient and inexpensive method of diversification of polymer properties [1,2,3].To obtain a useful product that can be classified as miscible or mechanically compatible [2,4], i.e., with a certain level of cohesion, one should consider the various structural parameters of the components that constitute the blend
It is dangerous to use it for the mass production of packaging, disposable dishes, perishables, which are mainly obtained from thermoplastic polyesters (poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), cycloaliphatic glycol-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET-G)) and polyolefins (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP))
All surface water was removed with filter paper and samples were weighed
Summary
Polymer blending is an efficient and inexpensive method of diversification of polymer properties [1,2,3]. To obtain a useful product that can be classified as miscible or mechanically compatible [2,4], i.e., with a certain level of cohesion, one should consider the various structural parameters of the components that constitute the blend. The most important challenge faced by polymer blending technology is the ability to use recycled polymers for the preparation of blends, thereby preventing the use of natural resources and reducing environmental pollution [3]. It is dangerous to use it for the mass production of packaging, disposable dishes, perishables, which are mainly obtained from thermoplastic polyesters (poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), cycloaliphatic glycol-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET-G)) and polyolefins (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP)). With a Materials 2020, 13, 2673; doi:10.3390/ma13122673 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
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