Molar Mass Alteration During Post-Consumer PET Recycling Using Polycarbodiimide-Based Additive

摘要

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) is one of the most used polymers in the world that results in tons disposed in landfills and dumping grounds. Despite the advantages of using recycled PET, the recycling process decrease its physical-chemical properties. The present study addresses the use of polycarbodiimide-based additive to increase the molar mass of post-consumer PET. A new approach is proposed to evaluate the molar mass, as well as the relationship between the intrinsic viscosity and oscillatory rheometry. This analysis allowed us to compare the measurement obtained in diluted solution and melt from complex viscosity out of the Newtonian plateau. Different concentrations of additive in the post-consumer (dry or wet) PET reprocessing resulted in materials with different molar mass ranges. Consequently, different market applications will be available, such as textile fiber, bottles or engineering goods.[GRAPHICS].