Miscibility, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Melt-Mixed Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/Polypropylene Blends

Abstract

This study examined the miscibility, mechanical and thermal properties of melt-mixed blends of PTT(poly(trimethylene terephthalate)) with PP(isotatic polypropylene). DMA and SEM results indicated that the PTT/PP blends are immiscible. Revealed from TGA analyses, the blends with a higher PP content showed a higher degradation temperature. A complex melting behavior was observed for the blends. The isothermal crystallization kinetics of the blends was analyzed from 200°C to 210°C using the Avrami equation. The WAXD results showed that the crystal structure of PTT remained unchanged in the blends. Nevertheless, the PP rich blends possessed lower tensile strength and higher elongation at break.

Keywords:

• Blends
• Isotatic polypropylene
• Miscibility
• Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)