Polybutylene terephthalate polymer blending

In a molded polymer blend, the surface morphology results from variations in composition between the surface and the bulk. Static SIMS was used to semiquan-titatively provide information on the surface chemistry on a polycarbonate (PC)/polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) blend. Samples of pure PC, pure PBT, and PC/PBT blends of known composition were prepared and analyzed using static SIMS. Fn ment peaks characteristic of the PC and PBT materials were identified. By measuring the SIMS intensities of these characteristic peaks from the PC/PBT blends, a typical working curve between secondary ion intensity and polymer blend composition was determined. A static SIMS analysis of the extruded surface of a blended polymer was performed. The peak intensities could then be compared with the known samples in the working curve to provide information about the relative amounts of PC and PBT on the actual surface. 

We previously reported that brominated aromatic phosphate esters are highly effective flame retardants for polymers containing oxygen such as polycarbonates and polyesters (9). Data were reported for use of this phosphate ester in polycarbonates, polyesters and blends. In some polymer systems, antimony oxide or sodium antimonate could be deleted. This paper is a continuation of that work and expands into polycarbonate alloys with polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). 

Cheng, Y.-Y., Brillhart, M., Cebe, P. and Capel, M., X-ray scattering and thermal analysis study of the effects of molecular weight on phase structure in blends of polybutylene terephthalate with polycarbonate, J. Poly. Sci., Polym. Phys., 34, 2953-2965 (1996). 

Hamilton, D. G. and Gallucci, R. R., The effects of molecular weight on polycarbonate-polybutylene terephthalate blends, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 48, 2249-2252 (1993). 

Pellow-Jarman, M. and Hetem, M., The effect of the polybutylene terephthalate constituent on the reactions occurring in PBT-polycarbonate polymer blends below their decomposition temperature, Plast. Rubber Composites Proc. Appl., 23, 31-41 (1995). 

Moldability of aryl polyesters have also been improved by the use of polybutylene terephthalate (PET) instead of PET or by the use of blends of PET and PET. PET under the trade name of Celanex, Valox, Gafite and Versel is being produced at an annual rate of 25 thousand tons. Copolymers of carbonate and aryl esters, acrylics and aryl esters, and imide and aryl esters as well as physical blends of polyesters and other polymers are available. These aryl polyesters are being used for bicycle wheels, springs, and blow molded containers. The properties of typical aryl polyesters are as follows ... 

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.)... 

Solubility tests permit at least a tentative identification of the components also in polymer blends. Blends of ABS and polycarbonate are soluble in most polar solvents. Solubility in tetrahydrofuran and methyl ethyl ketone demonstrates the absence of polyolefins in such blends and the presence of aromatic polyesters or of polyamides can also be excluded. On the other hand, generally they may contain such highly soluble polymers as polystyrene, PVC, ABS, or polymethacrylates. However, blends that contain polybutylene terephthalate or polyethylene terephthalate do not dissolve in the usual solvents, but require m-cresol, which can he a clear indication that aromatic polyesters are present. Polyolefins dissolve at high temperatures, at least 110 °C, in toluene and p-xylene, and this behavior is characteristic of blends that contain polyethylene or polypropylene. 

Engberg and coworkers [14,98] investigated the blends of thermotropic PLCs with fully amorphous polymers polyethersulfone (PES), polycarbonate (PC) and aromatic poly (ester carbonate) (APEC) [98] and semicrystalline polymers like polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) [14]. aL was calculated according to the Takayanaga model [101] as follows ... 

Polyphenylene ether (PPE) and polystyrene Partially incompatible polymer blends Polyethylene and polyisobutylene Polyethylene and polypropylene (5% PE in PP) Polycarbonate and polybutylene terephthalate... 

Sometimes certain materials need some properties from one polymer and some from another polymer. Rather than synthesizing a brand-new polymer with aU of the desired properties, two polymers can be melted together to form a blend polymer that possesses some of the properties of each constituent. Polystyrene and polyphenylene oxide that actually mixes well is one example of a blended polymer. Other examples are PET with polybutylene terephthalate and poly(methyl methacrylate) withpolyvinylidene fluoride. 

Chapter 7, Polybutylene Terephthalate, from LG Chem, describes the science and technology of PBT blends, compounds, and composites. The chapter offers details on the advantages of different polymer blends, types of fiber, and mineral and fiber-mineral hybrid reinforcements as well as chemical and hydrolysis resistance, flammability, and other PBT attributes. The author states that the most important apphcations of PBT are automotive and electrical, electronics and telecommunications, as well as precision engineering and general mechanical engineering, and concludes that the ability to modify for various applications, combined with a range of reinforcement and blend, has enabled PBT as one of the most widely used engineering polymers. ... 

A. C. M. Van Bennekom, D. Van den Berg, J. Bussinkt and R. J. Gaymans, Blends of amide modified polybutylene terephthalate and polycarbonate phase separation and morphology. Polymer, 38 5041-5049,1997. 

Heino, M. T. and Seppala, J. V., Studies on blends of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and polybutylene terephthalate, Poiym. Bull. 30 353 (1993). 

Recent work on crystallinity measurements is reported below sulfur containing ether ketones [14], polyethylene glycol [15], polystyrene (PS) [16, 17], (PC) [18], polyphenylene alkene diyls [19, 20], isotactic polypropylene [20, 21], polyethylene [21, 22], polyimide [23], poly(2,5 bis (4-methoxyphenyl) oxycarbonyl styrene [24], polyazomethine esters [25], PET-polybutylene terephthalate blends [26], polycyclohexyl ethylene copolymers [27], polycaprolactone [28], syndiotactic polystyrene [29, 30], polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluorethylene copolymer [30], polyethers [31], isotactic methyl methacrylate [32], soy protein isolate polymers [33], polyamide 6/66 [34], polytrimethylene-2,6-naphthalate [35, 36], PE like polyesters [37], polycyclohexadiene [38], p-dioxolone, L-lactide - polyethylene glycol copolymers [39], ethylene - methacrylic acid copolymers and ionomers [40]. 

FTIR spectroscopy has been applied in the study of polymer blends including Neoprene rubber, chlorosulfonated PE, nitrile rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing carbon black and other fillers [86], Nylon 6 inorganic [87], polyhydroxyether sulfone/poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) [88], graphite-based low-density polyethylene [89], caprolactone/Nafion blends [90], polybutylene terephthalate/polyamide [91], polyphenylene sulfide/acrylonitrile - butadiene - styrene [92], PMMA/polypyrrol [93], and lower or high performance liquid chromatography (LDPE/HDPE) [94]. 

The chemical pretreatment methods mentioned are mostly used for TPOs, but in some cases can also be effective when used on polyamide (PA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or other crystalline polymers, as well as some blends like poly(phenylene oxide)/polyamide (PPO/PA), are flamed. As a possible future trend, research is currently underway (plasma polymerization) attempting to combine a pretreatment for adhesion and to provide the surface conductivity on necessary on plastic parts for acceptable electrostatic application (15). 

Nonolefinic thermoplastic polymers that in principle may be blended with polyolefins include polyamides (nylons) such as polyamide 6, polyamide 66, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyphenylene ether (PPF), and polyphenylene oxide (PPO) polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephtha-late (PBT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polycarbonates, polyethers, and polyurethanes vinyl polymers such as polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and ethylene... 

The second most important class of commercial polycarbonate blends is derived by blending with commercial thermoplastic polyesters such as polybutylene tere-phthalate (PBT) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Both PBT and PET are crystallizable polymers and hence offer the expected chemical resistance advantages of the crystalline polymers in blends with polycarbonate. Among the thermoplastic polyester/polycarbonate blends, the PBT/PC blend has the major commercial volume, followed by the PET/PC blend. A copolymer of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, ethylene glycol, and terephthalic acid (PCTG) forms a miscible blend with polycarbonate. PCTG/PC blend was earlier offered by Eastman (Ektar ) for specialty applications, but it is no longer commercial. 

PEI forms miscible blends with polyesters such as polybutylene tereph-thalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyethylene naph-thanoate (PEN) [30-32]. These blends have a single Tg between that of the PEI and that of polyester. In blends with slower crystallizing polyesters such as PET and PEN, crystalhzation is reduced and one-phase, transparent compositions can be molded. Such blends have reduced thermal performance versus the base PEI polymer, but improved melt flow, reduced yellowness, and slightly better solvent resistance. 

The compatibilizer improves the mechanical properties of PE/starch, and addition of a plasticizer is actually detrimental to the finished products. Although PE is used here to demonstrate the results of this invention, results are practically the same with other combinations of polymer and compatibilizer as disclosed therein. Incorporation of compatibiHzer is easily accomplished by mechanical blending of the polymer, starch, and compatibilizer prior to extrusion. Typically, the compatibilizer is composed of the same polymer as the primary polymer itself. The polymer component of the compatibilizer may be selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(styrene-ethyl-ene-butylene-stryrene), poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinyl chloride, or derivatives thereof [6]. 

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