Hydrophobic Modification of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) with Epoxy-Modified Polysiloxane by Reactive Extrusion.

Hydrophobic poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was prepared by reactive blending of PET with double epoxy groups modified polysiloxane (diepsi) or multiepoxy groups modified polysiloxane (multiepsi). The structure of the modified PET was characterized by 1H NMR and intrinsic viscosity. The grafted ratio of diepsi and multiepsi was 1.3 and 0.03 wt%, respectively. With the introduction of diepsi and multiepsi to PET, the water contact angle of modified PET increased from 73° to a maximum of 106°, showing the good hydrophobicity of the modified PET. The samples of modified PET were washed with different solvents and their water contact angles did not significantly decrease, indicating good durability of the hydrophobicity. Moreover, the films of modified PET prepared by solution casting (phenol and 1, 1, 2, 2-tetrachloroethane mixed solution) showed excellent hydrophobicity with the contact angle 151°. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the surface of the modified PET films to be rougher than those of unmodified PET because the introduction of polysiloxane to PET resulted in phase separation during the solvent evaporation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]