Enhancing the crystallinity and heat resistance of poly(ethylene terephthalate) using ZnCl2‐ionized polyamide‐66 as a heterogeneous nucleator. Issue 4 (14th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tian, Yuanfu; Cen, Hongyu; Zheng, Xuan; Zeng, Zheng; Xu, Wen; Hu, Tao; Gong, Xinghou; Hu, Chuanqun; Wu, Chonggang
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 140:Issue 4(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-11-14
• Subjects: crystallinity -- heat resistance -- heterogeneous nucleation -- poly(ethylene terephthalate) -- polyamide‐66; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.53358
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

Abstract: To achieve the maximal improvement in the crystallization rate and heat resistance of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), 2.6 mol% of ZnCl2 ionized polyamide (PA)‐66 (PA‐66–Zn), with a strong coordination ability, is prepared and used as PET nucleator. This study found that the PA‐66–Zn heterogeneously nucleates PET more effectively than the CaCl2 ‐ionized PA‐66 and non‐ionized PA‐66 by differential scanning calorimetry, crystallization kinetics, X‐ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscopy. This is probably a result of the introduction of stronger ion–dipole interactions (IDIs) between the PET esters and the ionized‐PA‐66 ZnCl2 ‐coordinating amides, which obviously heightens the PET/PA‐66–Zn interfacial compatibility. As shown by scanning electron microscopy, the compatibilization through an appropriate concentration of IDIs promotes the formation of smaller and denser PA‐66 crystals with immensely increased nucleator efficiency. Furthermore, the PET/PA‐66–Zn with significantly improved crystallinity displays a remarkable increase in heat‐resistant temperature, at 21.6 and 55.1°C higher than that of PET/PA‐66 and PET, respectively. The results demonstrate that the PA‐66–Zn can act as a superior nucleator and as an outstanding heat‐resistant agent for PET. Abstract : Polyamide‐66 ionized with 2.6 mol% of ZnCl2 (PA‐66–2.6Zn), as an optimum heterogeneous nucleator, results in maximal improvement in poly(ethylene terephthalate) crystallization and heat resistance owing to the formation of strong ion–dipole interactions to give their controlled, markedly boosted interfacial compatibility, by which the PA‐66–2.6Zn's refined, densified dispersion obviously promotes its nucleation efficiency.