Syntheses and properties of the PET-co-PEA copolyester

An aliphatic-aromatic random-block copolyester of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and poly(enthylene adipate) (PEA), PET-co-PEA, was synthesized via melt polycondensation. The chemical structure of the products were characterized by two kinds of spectroscopic techniques (Fourier transform infrared and H-1-NMR). The thermal properties of the copolyester were characterized by thermogravimetry analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscopy. It was found that the crystallization ability, melting point, glass transition temperature of the random-block coplyester decreased apparently. Meanwhile, the tensile strength and hydrolysis performance were measured as well. The result showed that the random-block copolyesters PET-co-PEA displayed excellent properties in elasticity and strength. In addition, the potential degradability was found in hydrolysis measurement. (c) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44967.