Effect of transesterification on the physical properties of poly(butylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends

Abstract

The effect of transesterification on the rheological properties in the melt reactive blending of poly(butylene terephthalate)(PBT) with poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET) has been studied. The melt viscosity depression in PBT was found in PBT/PET blends due to the intrinsic low melt viscosity of PET compared to PBT In addition, the thermal degradation in the melt blending and transesterification between two polyesters were considered as other factors for the lowering of the melt viscosity in the blends. In the PBT/PET blends, calcium stearate was less effective than in PBT as a lubricant, however it accelerated both the thermal degradation and transesterification during melt blending. As a result, further melt viscosity drop was obtained in the reactive melt blending of PBT/PET.