Phosphonated Poly(ethylene terephthalate) ionomers as compatibilizers in extruded Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Poly(m-xylylene adipamide) blends and oriented films

Lin Ju, Ryan J. Mondschein, Johanna A. Vandenbrande, Clay B. Arrington, Timothy E. Long, Robert B. Moore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(m-xylylene adipamide) (MXD6) were successfully compatibilized by using a phosphonated PET ionomer in the Na+ form (Na+-PPET) as a compatibilizer. The compatibilized 90:10 (by weight) polyester/polyamide blends containing various amounts of the phosphonated polyester were prepared by melt mixing in a twin-screw extruder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the extruded blends contained spherical MXD6 domains dispersed in the PET matrix. The phase-separated MXD6 domain size decreased with increasing ionic monomer concentration, and the efficient compatibilization was attributed to specific interactions between the ionic phosphonate groups on the Na+-PPET ionomer and the amide linkages of MXD6. Thermal analysis suggested that the small MXD6 domains nucleated the crystallization of PET upon cooling as indicated by a shift of crystallization temperature of PET to higher temperatures. Furthermore, the specific interactions appeared to inhibit crystallization of MXD6. Biaxial orientation of melt processed films of the blends with a draw ratio of 3 × 3 transformed the spherical MXD6 domains into high aspect ratio platelets that were oriented in the plane of the film. Compared to the uncompatibilized base blends, optical property characterization on the oriented films revealed a decreased haziness by 56% and an improved transparency by 35% with 0.22 mol% of phosphonated ionic monomers incorporated in the polyester component. Moreover, a 33% decrease in oxygen permeability was found for the oriented Na+-PPET/PET/MXD6 blend composition containing 0.11 mol% of phosphonated monomers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number122891
JournalPolymer
Volume205
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 28 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Compatibilization
  • Phosphonated PET ionomer
  • Polyester/polyamide blends

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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