Effect of trisilanolphenyl-POSS on rheological, mechanical, and flame-retardant properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/cyclotriphosphazene systems

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) chips were coated by trisilanolphenyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (T-POSS) and hexakis (para-allyloxyphenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene (PACP) using the predispersed solution method, and PET/PACP/T-POSS hybrids were further prepared by the melt-blending method. The influence of T-POSS on the rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties and flame retardancy of PET/PACP composites were discussed. The results suggest that T-POSS was homogeneously dispersed in the PET matrix, which reduced the negative effects on polymer rheology and mechanical properties. For the PET/4% PACP/1% T-POSS sample, the tensile strength at break and T-g increased from 29.67 MPa and 81.7 degrees C (PET/5% PACP) to 34.8 MPa and 85.8 degrees C, respectively, but the sample also self-extinguished within 2 s, and the heat release capacity was reduced by 27.9% in comparison with that of neat PET. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.