Design of super-toughened, heat-resistant and antistatic polyethylene terephthalate-based blend composites by constructing a tenacious interface

It's a great challenge to achieve the synchronous enhancement of the fracture toughness and strength via designing the microstructures of blend composites. Herein, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were incorporated into polyethylene terephthalate/ethylene butyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer (PET/ PTW) blend. Effects of MWCNTs on the mechanical properties, phase morphology, crystallization behaviors, heat resistance and antistatic property of the blend were investigated. It is found that MWCNTs are selectively located at the two-phase interface of the blend and induce epitaxial crystallization of PET matrix, which better strengthens the interfacial adhesion of blend composites. Tenacious interface endows blend composites with superior fracture toughness and strength. The impact strength and tensile strength of the blend composite only containing 0.5 wt% MWCNTs are as high as 72.3 kJ/m2 (without fracture) and 38.9 MPa, respectively. The toughening mechanisms are attributed to the role of MWCNTs in compatibilizing, stress transferring and hin-dering the rapid propagation of cracks at the interface of the blend. Moreover, MWCNTs endow the blend composites with outstanding heat resistance and antistatic property, which enlarges the application fields of PET. This work offers a dexterous and effective blueprint for manufacturing of high mechanical performances PET-based blend composites.

Automated summary

Achieving the synchronous enhancement of fracture toughness and strength through the design of microstructures in blend composites is a great challenge. This study found that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) selectively located at the two-phase interface of the blend and induced epitaxial crystallization of PET matrix, which improved interfacial adhesion and resulted in superior fracture toughness and strength. MWCNTs also enhanced heat resistance and antistatic property of the blend composites, expanding the application fields of PET.