Recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)/Clay Nanocomposites: Rheology, Thermal and Mechanical Properties
| Title |
Recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)/Clay Nanocomposites: Rheology, Thermal and Mechanical Properties |
| Publication year |
2019 |
| Language |
English |
| Keywords |
Polyethylene terephthalate; Recycled; Cloisite® 10A; Clay; Polymer nanocomposites; Rheology; Tensile properties |
| Author |
Chowreddy, Ravindra (Norner) |
| Co-Authors |
Rapp, Florian - Nord-Varhaug, Katrin (Norner) |
| Source |
Journal of Polymers and the Environment |
| Abstract |
Polymer nanocomposites containing recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (r-PET) as a polymer matrix and Cloisite® 10A as a reinforcement were prepared through melt compounding. First, a masterbatch containing 20 wt% of Cloisite® 10A clay was prepared and later diluted with neat r-PET to obtain nanocomposites containing 1, 2, 4 and 6 wt% of clay. The rheological, thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of the PET/clay nanocomposites were characterized. The complex viscosity of the nanocomposites gradually increases with increase in clay content. The storage modulus and loss modulus of nanocomposite containing 1 wt% of clay was similar to neat r-PET but increases with increase in clay content. Incorporation of clay into a r-PET slightly increases the crystallisation temperature and degree of crystallinity due to the heterogenous nucleating effect of clay. Thermal stability and glass transition temperature of nanocomposite containing Cloisite® 10A clay at lower loadings was similar to r-PET and gradually decreases with increase in clay content. The tensile properties of PET/clay nanocomposites increased gradually with clay content. The impact strength of nanocomposites was not altered until 4 wt% and decreased at 6 wt%. Morphological investigations indicated homogeneous dispersion of clay in r-PET. |