Investigation of the Effect of Polycarbonate Rate on Mechanical Properties of Polybutylene Terephthalate/Polycarbonate Blends

Abstract

Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) is a brittle polymer with the disadvantage of low impact toughness, so it is not easy to meet the requirements of both high tensile strength, flexural strength, and high impact strength. In this study, PBT/polycarbonate (PC) blends at different ratios of 95/5, 90/10, 85/15, and 80/20 are investigated. Tensile strength, flexural strength, and unnotched Izod impact strength are studied according to the ASTM D638, ASTM D790, and ASTM D256 standards. The results show that tensile strength, which increased with increasing PC content, is 53.00, 62.34, 60.59, 62.98, and 64.46 MPa for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% PC samples. Flexural strength and elastic flexural testing of PBT/PC blends are higher than neat PBT. In addition, the unnotched Izod impact strength of PBT/PC is also higher than PBT. However, when PC content increases, impact strength tends to decrease. Impact strength is 44.82, 80.46, 68.82, 50.45, and 48.05 kJ/m2 corresponds to 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% PC, in which 5% PC sample is twice as high as the impact strength of PBT. Microstructure of the blends has shown that PC has become dispersed phase in PBT matrix. The size and quantity of dispersed PC particles increase with increasing PC rate in the blend. Thus, when adding PC, PBT/PC all meet the requirements of high tensile strength, flexural strength, and high impact strength. The PBT/5% PC model gives the highest impact strength while still ensuring durability, which potential application for making car door handles.