Recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)/Clay Nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites containing recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (r-PET) as a polymer matrix and Cloisite® 10A as a reinforcement were prepared through melt compounding. First, a masterbatch containing 20 wt% of Cloisite® 10A clay was prepared and later diluted with neat r-PET to obtain nanocomposites containing 1, 2, 4 and 6 wt% of clay. The rheological, thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of the PET-clay nanocomposites were characterized. The complex viscosity of the nanocomposites gradually increases with increase in clay content. The storage modulus and loss modulus of nanocomposite containing 1 wt% of clay was similar to neat r-PET but increases with increase in clay content. Incorporation of clay into a r-PET slightly increases the crystallisation temperature and degree of crystallinity due to the heterogenous nucleating effect of clay. Thermal stability and glass transition temperature of nanocomposite containing Cloisite® 10A clay at lower loadings was similar to r-PET and gradually decreases with increase in clay content. The tensile properties of PET-clay nanocomposites increased gradually with clay content. The impact strength of nanocomposites was not altered until 4 wt% and decreased at 6 wt%. Morphological investigations indicated homogeneous dispersion of clay in r-PET.