Thermal, morphological, rheological and deformation under mechanical loading analyses of recycled polyethylene terephthalates

Abstract

This study aims at determining the mechanical deformation behavior of recycled poly (ethylene terephthalate) (r-PET) with digital image correlation (DIC) and finite element method (FEM), and to investigate the morphological, thermal, and rheological properties of r-PETs. Waste bottles were collected in trash bins and granulated with a cutter. Neat PET (n-PET) was also was used to determine accurately the changes in the properties of r-PET. PET test samples were obtained by injection molding at 260, 265, 270, and 275 degrees C. DIC and FEM were conducted to detect the deformation behavior of the PETs under mechanical loading. The data showed that the behavior of n-PETs and r-PETs were similar, and the stress distribution was found to densify in various areas for both PETs. The mechanical properties generally increased with increasing processing temperature, the best mechanical properties being obtained for thPETs processed at 275 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the morphology of all the PETs were similar. Thermal stability was also found to be similar. The rheological moduli of n-PET processed at 260 degrees C were the highest, while processing r-PET at 275 degrees C improved its rheological properties.