Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling is investigated in this work. PET is a polymer in which hydrolytic degradation of polymeric chains occurs during thermomechanical reprocessing. This kind of processing yields poor melt strength and low viscosity for recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET). The chain extension effect of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) on phase morphology and crystallinity of the RPET and polyethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blends is verified or the first time including crystallization, thermal behavior and morphologies of the blended samples. First, RPET/EVA blends were prepared with 90/10, 70/30 and 60/40 weight ratio in an internal mixer. Pure RPET and virgin PET (VPET) were also reprocessed for comparison. Samples of RPET/EVA, VPET/EVA, RPET/EVA/PMDA and VPET/EVA/PMDA were examined using RPET (or VPET)/EVA = 60/40 (w/w) and 0.5% for PMDA. Both XRD and DSC tests revealed that PMDA and EVA reduce the rate and degree of crystallinity in PET, however, PMDA and PET increase both rate and degree of crystallinity in EVA. SEM images also illustrated RPET/EVA blend to be in co-continuous morphology while adding 0.5 wt% PMDA to the blend changes the structure to microfibrillar matrix-disperse state.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
