Preparation and characterization of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/hyperbranched polymer nanocomposites by melt blending

Abstract

In this paper, nanocomposites of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) including polyesteramide-based hyperbranched polymer, or PET/Hyperbranched polymer nanocomposites, have been prepared via melt blending method with different hyperbranched polymer contents. In addition, morphology, surface structure, and thermal properties of these nanocomposites and virgin PET were studied by atomic force microscopy, attenuated total reflection fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. Dynamic mechanical analysis experiments in solid state were carried out to follow the effect of hyperbranched polymer on the dynamic mechanical properties of these nanocomposites. The structure of the nanostructured hyperbranched polymer was also studied by small-angle X-ray scattering. The rheometric mechanical spectroscopy results showed that the hyperbranched polymer as a modifier decreased the complex viscosity and enhanced liquid-like behavior. This happened more significantly by increasing the content of hyperbranched polymer. The DSC analysis results revealed that crystallinity and glass transition temperature decreased by adding the amount of hyperbranched polymer.