Influence of short glass fiber reinforcement on the morphology development and mechanical properties of PET/HDPE blends

Abstract

AbstractPoly(ethylene‐terephthalate) (PET)—high density polyethylene (HDPE) blends with varying component ratios and with or without short glass fiber reinforcement (10 gv%) were prepared. The morphology of the blends was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. The interfacial shear strength between PET and HDPE as well as between the polymers and the glass fiber was determined with microbond testing. The static mechanical properties were defined with tensile tests and Charpy impact tests, while the dynamic mechanical properties with DMTA. In blends that do not contain glass fibers, the co‐continuous structure formed in the vicinity of phase inversion increased both the static tensile modulus as well as the impact strength compared to the mechanical properties of polymers. Based on the observations simple morphological models were set up, with the help of which the change in the mechanical properties of blends of different composition can be explained. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers