Application of the electron radiation and triallyl isocyanurate for production of aliphatic-aromatic co-polyester of modified properties

• Published in: International journal of advanced manufacturing technology Vol. 87; no. 9-12; pp. 3307 - 3314
• Main Author: Malinowski, Rafał
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01.12.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aliphatic compounds; CAE) and Design; Chain branching; Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD; Crosslinking; Density; Electron radiation; Elongation; Engineering; Flow velocity; Industrial and Production Engineering; Macromolecules; Mechanical Engineering; Mechanical properties; Media Management; Original Article; Radiation; Radiation dosage; Tensile strength; Terephthalate; PBAT; Electron beam; Gel fraction; Crosslinking agent; Chromatography
• ISSN: 0268-3768; 1433-3015
• DOI: 10.1007/s00170-016-8713-2

Investigation of the effect of electron radiation and triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) on the mass melt flow rate, average molecular weight, density, mechanical properties, as well as formation of the gel fraction of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) was the main objective of the present work. It was found that irradiation of PBAT by electron radiation causes mutual linking of PBAT macromolecules at chain ends or create branched structures. At the same time, the gel fraction does not form and inhibition of flow does not occur. It was also found that PBAT irradiated in the presence of TAIC underwent crosslinking resulting in formation of a significant amount of the gel fraction. Moreover, TAIC by itself does not cause crosslinking of this polymer. It grows also tensile strength and density of irradiated samples containing TAIC, and the elongation at break decreased. The extent of observed changes essentially depends on the magnitude of the electron radiation dose.