The effect of irradiation on morphology and properties of the PET/HDPE blends with trimethylol propane trimethacrylate (TMPTA)

• Published in: Polymer bulletin (Berlin, Germany) Vol. 63; no. 4; pp. 587 - 597
• Main Authors: Xiang, Zeming, Liu, Huarong, Deng, Pengyang, Liu, Meihua, Yin, Yuan, Ge, Xuewu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.10.2009; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical plants; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Crosslinking; Crosslinking and degradation; Elongation; Environmental policy; Exact sciences and technology; Extrusion; Fourier transforms; Impact strength; Impact tests; Infrared spectroscopy; Interfaces; Interfacial bonding; Irradiation; Mechanical properties; Mixtures; Morphology; Organic chemicals; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyethylene terephthalate; Polymer blends; Polymer Sciences; Polymers and radiations; Polyolefins; Positron emission; Propane; Radiation; Scanning electron microscopy; Soft and Granular Matter; Solid phases; Spectrum analysis; Tensile strength; China; Irradiation; PET/HDPE; Morphology and mechanical properties; TMPTA; Ethylene terephthalate polymer; Methacrylic acid esters; Polymer blends; Ester polymer; High density ethylene polymer; Mechanical properties; Tensile property; Experimental study; Heterogeneous mixture; Radiochemical crosslinking; Radiation dose; Gamma radiation; Impact strength; Morphology; Concentration effect; Olefin polymer; Interface reaction
• ISSN: 0170-0839; 1436-2449
• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-009-0109-0

The mechanical properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/high-density poly(ethylene) (PET/HDPE) blends were improved by γ-ray irradiation combined with using a cross-linking agent—trimethylol propane trimethacrylate (TMPTA). The effect of the weight ratio of PET/HDPE, the content of TMPTA and the absorbed dose on the phase morphology and the mechanical properties of the PET/HDPE blends were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gel fraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), tensile and impact tests. SEM images showed that the phase structure changed significantly as TMPTA coexistence. The results of tensile and impact tests indicated that their mechanical properties depended on their structures. FTIR spectra suggested that a new structure of HDPE-g-PET was generated. When the weight ratio of PET/HDPE blend was 80/20, the content of TMPTA was 1 wt% and the absorbed dose was 30 kGy, the tensile strength, elongation at break and impact strength of irradiated blends were improved greatly compared with non-irradiated blends.