Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Extruded Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer/TiO2 Nano-Composites: Effect of Surface Modification

Abstract

Nano-titanium dioxide (titania, nTiO₂) reinforced polymer composites develop new ways of engineering that exhibit better mechanical and chemical properties. This work investigates the effects of nanoparticles and compatibilizer (maleated styrene ethylene butylene styrene, SEBSMA) on the features of poly(butylene terephthalate)-block-tetramethylene ether glycol terephthalate (PBT-TEGT)-based thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPE). The nTiO₂ particle content in the TPE was varied from 3 to 7 wt%. nTiO₂ particles were coated with SEBSMA before melt blending for better surface adhesion and fine dispersion. The influences of uncoated and coated nTiO₂ particles with varying concentrations on the mechanical and thermal features of binary TPE/nTiO₂ nanocomposites were manufactured by the melt compounding process tracked by hot press mold. Due to the rigid structure of nTiO₂ particles, all tensile features (yield strength, tensile strength, and tensile modulus) increased while elongation at break reduced. It probably requires better compatibility of nTiO₂ with SEBSMA and in this case, due to the formation of nTiO₂ finer with TPE, has been persuasive to ensure lower elongation results. DSC measurements showed that the inclusion of coated nTiO₂ resulted in higher crystallization temperature and melting temperature than virgin TPE. Furthermore, the addition of coated nTiO₂ particles enhances the overall mechanical features and thermal behaviors such as the thermal stability of the material.