In situ compatibilization of PBT/PPO blends

Abstract

A reactive copolymer, styrene-glycidyl methacrylate (SG) has been used as an in situ compatibilizer for the polymer blends of PET and PPO. The epoxy groups from the SG copolymer ale able to react with PET endgroups (-OH or -COOH) in melt to form an SG-g-PBT copolymer which can function as phase compatibilizer of the PBT/PPO blends. The optimized glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) content in SG copolymer and its optimized quantity in PBT/PPO blends to achieve maximum property improvement have been thoroughly investigated in this study. The presence of this in situ reactive compatibilizer improves the processability, impact strength, tensile properties, heat distortion temperature, and phase stability in thermal annealing of the incompatible blends of PBT/PPO.