Comparing Effects of Different Nanoparticles and Compatibilizers on the Properties of Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer Nanocomposites

Abstract

Reinforced polymer flexible composites, including nanoparticles (titan dioxide, nTiO₂, and Zinc oxide, ZnO), reveal new avenues of engineering that demonstrate better mechanical and chemical features. This paper examines the effects of nanoparticles and compatibilizers (maleated styrene-(ethylene-co-butylene)-styrene, SEBSMA and stearic acid, SA) on the features of poly(butylene terephthalate)-block-tetramethylene ether glycol terephthalate (PBT-TEGT)-based thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPE). The nanoparticle content in the matrix was varied from 1 to 5 wt%. The surface of the nanoparticles was modified with different compatibilizers such as SA and SEBSMA before melt blending for better surface adhesion and fine dispersion. The effects of modified and unmodified nanoparticles with a varying concentration on the morphological and mechanical features of TPE/nanoparticles nanocomposites were manufactured by a twin-screw extruder followed by a heat press machine. Due to the stiff structure of nanoparticles, all tensile features (yield strength, tensile strength, and tensile modulus) increased while impact strength and elongation at break reduced. Consequently, although nTiO₂ has a higher hardness than nZnO, the elongation of nanocomposites with nTiO₂ was higher than that of nZnO. The presence of SA in TPE/nTiO₂ nanocomposite was more effective than the presence of SEBSMA in TPE/nTiO₂ nanocomposite. On the contrary, the tensile features of SA modified nTiO2 nanocomposites were higher than that of SA modified nZnO nanocomposite. This is probably due to the better compatibility of nTiO₂ with SA and in this case, the more fine structure of nTiO₂ with TPE has been induced, which ensures the result of lower elongation at break.