Miscibility and crystallisation behaviour of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate blends

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate blends were produced in a twin-screw extruder with and without added transesterification catalyst, lanthanum acetyl acetonate. The miscibility of the blends was studied from their crystallisation behaviour and variation in glass transition temperature with composition using differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and change in mechanical properties. The blends prepared without the catalyst showed completely immiscible over all compositions, while those prepared in the presence of the catalyst showed some limited miscible. The presence of PC inhibited the crystallisation of PET but this was much greater in the blends prepared in the presence of catalyst suggesting that some reaction had taken place between the two polyesters. The tensile properties showed little differences between the two types of blends.