Properties of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites Prepared by Two-Step Polymerization Procedure

Intercalated nanocomposites of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and layered silicate (ME) were pre- pared by a two-step polymerization process: a melt polymerization of bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate and a subsequent solid-state polymerization. Two kinds of cationic surfactants, dodecyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (C12TP) and 10- (3,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)phenoxy)decyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (IP10TP) were employed as compatibilizers. The dispersibility of ME in PET was investigated by X-Ray diffraction analysis and optical polarization microscopy. The thermal and dynamic mechanical behavior of the nanocomposites was compared with that of pure PET and a PET/ME composite. By utilizing IP10TP as the compatibilizer, better dispersion of ME into the PET matrix could be achieved. The obtained PET/IP10TP/ME nanocomposite showed a higher tensile storage modulus compared with those of pure PET, PET/ME, and PET/C12TP/ME, especially in the temperature range above the glass transition temperature.