In attempts to produce modified poldified polyethlene terephthalate (PET) ressins with improved rheology for applications requiring high viscosity and elasticity (e.g., lowdensity extrusion foaming, extrusion blow molding), a novel dimidodiepoxide of low molecular weight was evaluated aschain extender/branching ageent. Its reactivity was compared with that of an ethylene/glycidy1 methacrylate copolymer. The diepoxide showed higher reactivity than the copolymer and could be used at muchlower concentrations. The complex chain extension/degradation reactions occurring in the melt were followed in a batch mixer by torque changes, and by analyzing the prouducts for residual carboxy1 and hydroxy1 content, intrinsic viscosity, insoluble content and melt viscoelastic properties. The perliminary results of this work indicated an overall decrease in carboxy1 content, increase in hydroxy1 content, increase in intrinsic viscosity ans melt viscosity and storage modulus values depending on mixing time and the type and concentration of the additive. It is shown that under certain conditions. reaction of PET with less than 1 wt% diimidodiepoxide may produce materials with rheological characteristics similar to thouse of PET grades that are extrusion foamable by gas injection to low densities.

In attempts to improve the compatibility of polypropylene with polyethylene terephthalate, an acrylic acid functionalized polypropylene was evaluated as the blend component in polyblends containing 40 percent by weight polyethylene terephthalate and compared with an unmodified polypropylene. The preliminary experiments in a batch laboratory mixer were followed by compounding in a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. Additives such as magnesium acetate and p‐toluenesulfonic acid were evaluated as catalysts for potential interchange or esterification reactions that could occur in the melt. The blends were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and for mechanical properties. The results show that the functionalized polypropylene promotes a fine dispersed phase morphology, improves processability and mechanical properties, and modifies the crystallization behavior of the polyester component. These effects are attributed to enhanced phase interactions resulting in reduced interfacial tension (calculated as a 4‐fold decrease). The presence of the additives does not, in general, improve any further the blend morphology and properties, or its processability.