Polybutylene terephthalate plastics

Fig. 11. Effect of polyolefin primers on bond strength of ethyl cyanoacrylate to plastics. All assemblies tested in accordance with ASTM D 4501 (block shear method). ETFE = ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer LDPE = low-density polyethylene PFA = polyper-fluoroalkoxycthylene PBT = polybutylene terephthalate, PMP = polymethylpentene PPS = polyphenylene sulfide PP = polypropylene PS = polystyrene PTFE = polytetrafluoroethylene PU = polyurethane. From ref. [73].

PBDEs are used in different resins, polymers, and substrates at levels ranging from 5 to 30% by weight (EU 2001). Plastic materials that utilize PBDEs as flame retardants include ABS polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polyamide(PA) polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) polyethylene (PE) cross-linked polyethylene (XPE) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polypropylene (PP) polystyrene (PS) high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polyurethane (PUR) and unsaturated polyester (UPE). These polymers and examples of their final products are summarized inTable 5-2 (Hardy 2002 WHO 1994a). 

The most important representatives of this group are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The consumption of PET in the world (excluding fibers) was about 4x 106 t in 1997 (audio and video films, technical mouldings, packaging, particularly bottles). Even though the cost of these plastics is presently in the medium price range, one can count on a reduction in their price in the future due to their widespread use. 

For conventional technical applications aromatic polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) are widely used. But these polymers are biologically inert and thus not directly applicable as biodegradable plastics. Combining both the excellent material properties of aromatic polyesters and the potential biodegradability of aliphatic polyesters has led to the development of a number of commercially available aliphatic-aromatic co-polyesters over the last decade or so. 

Engineering plastics are those to which standard metal engineering equations can be applied they are capable of sustaining high loads and stresses and are machinable and dimensionally stable. They are used in construction, as machine parts, automobile components, etc. Among the more important are nylon, acetals, polycarbonates, ABS resins, PPO/styrene, and polybutylene terephthalate. 

A well established material for electronic housings is polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) strengthened with glass fibers. It is a cost-effective plastic compound with... 

Linear aliphatic chols are widely used as raw materials for polymers. Polymers synthesized from even-carbon diols tend to show excellent polymer properties. 1,4-Butanediol is very important as raw material for various polymers such as urethanes and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), which is an engineering plastic. Since Celanese Corporation described a PBT resin in 1970, the demand for PBT resin, which is mainly used for automotive, electrical, and electronic equipment parts, has been expanding rapidly [1]. THF is also a major 1,4-butanediol derivative as a raw material for poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol used for artificial leather and elastic fibers in addition to being a high-performance solvent. Significant growth in demand for these 1,4-butanediol derivatives is expected in Asia, primarily in China. 

Many of these new plastics are in the polyester family. One that is getting attention is PEF, polyethylene furanoate. Avantium opened a PEE pilot plant in the Netherlands in 2011. PEF reportedly is similar to PET in performance, but is 100% biobased [10]. Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) is available as a partially biobased plastic, from biobased 1,4-butanediol and petro-based terephthalic acid. Polybutylene succinate (PBS) is similarly made from biobased succinic acid and petro-based terephthalic acid. Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) can be made from biobased 1,3-propanediol with, again, petro-based terephthalic acid. 

Laminated tubes are made from multilayer materials that usually contain paper as well as plastic, and often also include aluminum foil as a barrier layer. The preprinted tube bodies are sealed into a cylinder, with the edges of the sleeve overlapped and compressed, squeezing some of the plastic out around the raw edges of the foil and paper to make a good seal. Next the tube is cut to length, and finally the head is molded and assembled to the body. To improve the barrier in the head, a premolded insert of polybutylene terephthalate or urea can be incorporated in the injection mold when the head is formed. 

Ford Sierra featured the first all-plastic bumper in Europe, and the Ford Taurus and Sable featured the first of these bumpers in the United States. The bumper is molded from GE s Xenoy polycarbonate (PC)/polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) blend. The high impact strength of PC, combined with the resistance to gasoline and oil and the processing ease of PBT, has boosted the use of PC/PBT blends in car bumpers. Bayer s PC/PBT blends are called Makrolon PR. They are used for several automobile impact-resistant parts. 

Plastics find extensive use in several areas of fiber optic cables. Buffer tubes, usually extruded from high-performance plastics such as fluoropolymers, nylon, acetal resins, or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) are used for sheathing optical fibers. A blend o PVC and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer, such as Pantalast 1162 of Pantasote Incorporated, does not require a plasticizer, which helps the material maintain stability when in contact with water-proofing materials. PVC and elastomer blends, Carloy 6190 and 6178, of Cary Chemicals are also used for fiber optic applications (Stiffening rods for fiber optics are either pultruded epoxy and glass or steel. Around these is the outer jacketing, which is similar to conventional cable.)... 

Polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate are soluble in nitrobenzene. For their identification, pyrolyze a small sample of the solid plastic in a glass tube covered with filter paper. First, drench the filter paper with a saturated solution of o-nitrobenzaldehyde in dilute sodium hydroxide. A blue-green color (indigo), which is stable against dilute hydrochloric acid, indicates terephthalic acid. 

Butanediol is the main intermediate to tetrahydrofuran and y-butyro-lactone, but is finding increasing use in the production of polybutylene terephthalate, an engineering plastic. Production in the U.S.A. (over 200 kt per annum) and Europe (approx. lOOkt per annum) is mainly via Reppe chemistry, based on acetylene ... 

MPBT-FG Glass fiber-filled polybutylene terephthalate, PBT Modified Plastics... 

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