Microcellular injection molding of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends with chain extenders and nanoclay

Yottha Srithep; Lih-Sheng Turng

doi:10.1515/polyeng-2013-0143

Article

Microcellular injection molding of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends with chain extenders and nanoclay

Yottha Srithep and Lih-Sheng Turng

Published/Copyright: November 29, 2013

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Submit Manuscript Author Information

From the journal Journal of Polymer Engineering Volume 34 Issue 1

Abstract

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) resin is one of the most widely used thermoplastics, especially in packaging. Due to thermal and hydrolytic degradations, recycled PET (RPET) exhibits poor mechanical properties and lacks moldability. The effects of adding chain extender (CE) and nanoclay to RPET were investigated. Melt blending of RPET with CE was performed in a thermokinetic mixer (K-mixer). The blended materials were then prepared via solid and microcellular injection molding processes. The effects of CE loading levels and the simultaneous addition of nanoclay on the thermal and mechanical properties and cell morphology of the microcellular components were noted. The addition of 1.3% CE enhanced the tensile properties and viscosity of RPET. The higher amount of CE (at 3%) enhanced the viscosity, but the margin of improvement in mechanical properties diminished. While the solid RPET and CE blends were fairly ductile, the samples with nanoclay and all microcellular specimens showed brittle fractural behavior. Finally, nanoclay and the increase of CE content decreased the average cell size and enlarged the cell density of the microcellular samples.

Keywords: chain extender; microcellular injection molding; nanoclay; poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)

Corresponding author: Yottha Srithep, Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Khamriang, Kantarawichai, Mahasarakham Province 44150, Thailand, e-mail: yottha.s@msu.ac.th

References

[1] Zhang Y, Guo W, Zhang H, Wu C. Polym. Degrad. Stabil. 2009, 94, 1135–1141.Search in Google Scholar

[2] Buxbaum L. The Degradation of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate). Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.: Akron, OH, 1968.Search in Google Scholar

[3] Grassie N, Scott G. Polymer Degradation and Stabilisation. Cambridge University Press: New York, 1988.Search in Google Scholar

[4] Cardi N, Po R, Giannotta G, Occhiello E, Garbassi F, Messina G. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2003, 50, 1501–1509.Search in Google Scholar

[5] Torres N, Robin J, Boutevin B. Eur. Polym. J. 2000, 36, 2075–2080.Search in Google Scholar

[6] Canetti M, Bertini F. Compos. Sci. Technol. 2007, 67, 3151–3157.Search in Google Scholar

[7] Friedrich K, Evstatiev M, Fakirov S, Evstatiev O, Ishii M, Harrass M. Compos. Sci. Technol. 2005, 65, 107–116.Search in Google Scholar

[8] Fuchs C, Bhattacharyya D, Fakirov S. Compos. Sci. Technol. 2006, 66, 3161–3171.Search in Google Scholar

[9] Hernandez JJ, Garcia-Gutierrez MC, Nogales A, Rueda DR, Ezquerra TA. Compos. Sci. Technol. 2006, 66, 2629–2632.Search in Google Scholar

[10] Phinyocheep P, Saelao I, Buzare JY. Polymer 2007, 48, 5702–5712.10.1016/j.polymer.2007.07.016Search in Google Scholar

[11] Mouzakis D, Papke N, Wu J, Karger-Kocsis J. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2001, 79, 842–852.Search in Google Scholar

[12] Papke N, Karger-Kocsis J. Polymer 2001, 42, 1109–1120.10.1016/S0032-3861(00)00475-4Search in Google Scholar

[13] Loyens W, Groeninckx G. Polymer 2002, 43, 5679–5691.10.1016/S0032-3861(02)00472-XSearch in Google Scholar

[14] Kiliaris P, Papaspyrides C, Pfaendner R. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2007, 104, 1671–1678.Search in Google Scholar

[15] Haralabakopoulos A, Tsiourvas D, Paleos C. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 1999, 71, 2121–2127.Search in Google Scholar

[16] Srithep Y, Javadi A, Pilla S, Turng LS, Gong S, Clemons C, Peng J. Polym. Eng. Sci. 2011, 51, 1023–1032.Search in Google Scholar

[17] Pilla S, Kramschuster A, Yang L, Lee J, Gong S, Turng LS. Mater. Sci. Eng. 2009, 29, 1258–1265.Search in Google Scholar

[18] Chandra A, Gong S, Yuan M, Turng LS, Gramann P, Cordes H. Polym. Eng. Sci. 2005, 45, 52–61.Search in Google Scholar

[19] Yuan M, Winardi A, Gong S, Turng LS. Polym. Eng. Sci. 2005, 45, 773–788.Search in Google Scholar

[20] Gong S, Yuan M, Chandra A, Kharbas H, Osorio A, Turng L. Int. Polym. Proc. 2005, 20, 202–214.Search in Google Scholar

[21] Kramschuster A, Cavitt R, Ermer D, Chen Z, Turng LS. Polym. Eng. Sci. 2005, 45, 1408–1418.Search in Google Scholar

[22] Strong AB, Strong B. Plastics: Materials and Processing. Prentice Hall: New Jersey, 1996.Search in Google Scholar

[23] Pilla S, Kramschuster A, Gong SS, Chandra A, Turng LS. Int. Polym. Proc. 2007, 22, 418–428.Search in Google Scholar

[24] Srithep Y, Turng LS, Sabo R, Clemons C. Cellulose 2012, 19, 1209–1223.10.1007/s10570-012-9726-0Search in Google Scholar

[25] Srithep Y, Ellingham T, Peng J, Sabo R, Clemons C, Turng L-S, Pilla S. Polym. Degrad. Stabil. 2013, 98, 1439–1449.Search in Google Scholar

[26] Kramschuster A, Gong S, Turng LS, Li T. J. Biobased Mater. Bio. 2007, 1, 37–45.Search in Google Scholar

[27] Naguib HE, Park CB, Panzer U, Reichelt N. Polym. Eng. Sci. 2004, 42, 1481–1492.Search in Google Scholar

[28] Lee LJ, Zeng C, Cao X, Han X, Shen J, Xu G. Compos. Sci. Technol. 2005, 65, 2344–2363.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2013-6-23

Accepted: 2013-11-2

Published Online: 2013-11-29

Published in Print: 2014-02-01

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/polyeng-2013-0143

Keywords for this article

chain extender; microcellular injection molding; nanoclay; poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)