Effect of Weathering and Accelerated Photoaging on PET/PC (80/20 wt/wt%) Melt Extruded Blend
In this study we investigated the natural weathering of a catalyzed blend of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate PET/PC (80/20wt/wt%). The results were compared to the accelerated photoaging tests. The specimens were characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), optical microscopy (OM), thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), medium infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and stress-strain analysis. The OM analysis revealed the coexistence of at least three phases – one rich in PET (matrix), the other rich in PC (dispersed droplet) and an interfacial region between them, made of PET/PC copolymer (compatibilizing agent) produced in situ. The TG/DTG curves showed that UV radiation acted mainly on the PET-rich phase and the PET/PC copolymer. The OM and TG/DTG results indicated that the degradation of the compatibilizing agent has had a critical effect on the mechanical properties. For both types of aging (natural and accelerated), the PET’s carbonyl index decreased with the exposure time. The FT-IR results corroborated what was seen in the OM images, showing that the PET phase acts as a shield against the PC degradation. Under accelerated aging, the mechanical properties decreased abruptly - mainly the stress-strain at yield and break - due to the degradation of the in situ compatibilizing agent.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
ABM, ABC, ABPol
2015
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| Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392015000400763 |
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