Study of weathering effects on binary and ternary polymer blends

Abstract

Composite materials were prepared using polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The three polymers were manufactured into binary blends (PP+ PET) and ternary blends which consist of (PC+PP) together as the major constituent, and PET as the minor constituent. The optimum mixing ratio (OMR) of the polymers mentioned previously decided by the tensile test results, so the blend with the highest tensile strength chosen as the composites matrix material to be prepared. The blends employed as composite matrix materials by the addition of 1% wt. of titanium oxide, to assess their resistance to weathering effects (UV spectrum in the current work). Mechanical tests (tensile and impact) conducted to assess the change in properties before and after exposure to the mentioned effects. The reinforced binary and ternary blends showed a higher resistance to U.V. spectrum compared to unreinforced blends, such that the tensile strength and impact strength were higher using TiO2-reinforced specimens than the unreinforced ones.