Property Modulation of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) by Incorporation of Nonlinear Isophthalate Units

Abstract

Summary: P(TT‐co‐TI)s with up to 20 mol‐% of TI units were synthesized in order to modulate the thermal and mechanical properties of PTT and were characterized by FT‐IR, 1H NMR, DSC, and DMA analysis. PTI and PTT were also synthesized for the purpose of comparison. The polymerizations proceeded via two steps, i.e., transesterification and polycondensation. Manganese acetate and titanium butoxide were used as catalysts for the transesterification and polycondensation steps, respectively. During the polymerization, the P(TT‐co‐TI) copolymers and PTI exhibited similar transesterification rates, whereas PTI showed a slower rate. The polycondensation rate decreased with increasing TI content in P(TT‐co‐TI). The synthesis of the polymers was confirmed by FT‐IR and 1H NMR analysis. DSC and DMA analysis indicated that the P(TT‐co‐TI)s are random copolymers, and that their Tcc increased and Tm decreased as the TI content in the P(TT‐co‐TI) increased. The peel strength between the P(TT‐co‐TI) films and an aluminum sheet increased as the TI content in the copolymer increased. The melt‐quenched films of the PTT and P(TT‐co‐TI) copolymers had similar tensile strengths and initial moduli. The dyeing property of the P(TT‐co‐TI) films was enhanced by increasing the TI content.DSC heating thermograms of the melt‐quenched PTT, PTI, and P(TT‐co‐TI)s.magnified imageDSC heating thermograms of the melt‐quenched PTT, PTI, and P(TT‐co‐TI)s.

Crystallization behavior and morphology of poly(propylene terephthalate) copolymers containing neopenthyl glycol moieties

“…In fact, these latter can be favourably changed, depending on the kind, relative amount, and distribution of the comonomeric units along the polymer chain. Nevertheless, so far there has been little reported in the literature on the modification of the PPT properties by copolymerization 10–19. In this view, recently, we synthesized a series of random poly(propylene/neopenthyl terephthalate) copolymers (PPT‐PNT) by melt polycondensation and investigated the effect of composition on the thermal properties, with special attention paid to the glass transition as well as the melting process of samples not subjected to isothermal treatments 20.…”

“…Nevertheless, so far there has been little reported in the literature on the modification of the PPT properties by copolymerization. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] In this view, recently, we synthesized a series of random poly(propylene/neopenthyl terephthalate) copolymers (PPT-PNT) by melt polycondensation and investigated the effect of composition on the thermal properties, with special attention paid to the glass transition as well as the melting process of samples not subjected to isothermal treatments. 20 In front of the relevant academic and industrial importance of the studies of the isothermal crystallization of polymers, and taking also into account that at present no data have been yet reported in the literature on PPT-PNT copolymers, it appeared very interesting to complete the work by investigating the crystallization process under isothermal conditions by means of both differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy.…”

Synthesis and characterization of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) nanocomposites incorporating multi‐walled carbon nanotubes

“…The characteristic peaks of PTT at 1700-1750 and 500-1500 cm À1 were observed in neat PTT and PTTg-AA. 37,38 An additional peak at 1711 cm À1 , assigned to AC¼ ¼O, and a broad OAH stretching transition at 3218 cm À1 were observed in the modified PTT. The shoulder near 1711 cm À1 was attributable to free acid in the modified polymer.…”

Influence of Chain Structure on Phase Behavior and Thermal Degradation of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/Poly(hydroxy ether) of Bisphenol‐A Blends

“…Since being commercialized by Shell Chemicals Co., polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) has received much scientific attention in the pure form14–23 and blends 24–28. In the pure form, most of the attempts performed to date have been focused on the crystallization of the PTT 14–16.…”

“…In the pure form, most of the attempts performed to date have been focused on the crystallization of the PTT 14–16. However, some authors have studied other characteristics of PTT such as degradation behaviour,17–19 chemical structure,20, 21 and mechanical properties 22, 23. Several blends of PTT have also been studied with respect to their rheological properties,24, 25 miscibility,26 morphology,27, 28 chemical structure and reactions occurring in the blends 26.…”