Phase separation in poly(butylene terephthalate)-based materials prepared by solid-state modification

The morphology of a series of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/fatty acid dimer diol (FADD)-based copolyesters prepared by solid-state modification (SSM) was studied. It was shown that in copolyesters containing less than 10 wt% FADD two different phases, i.e. a PBT crystalline phase and a PBT-rich amorphous phase, are present. The FADD residues were more or less homogeneously distributed throughout the interlamellar regions. For copolymers containing more than 10 wt% of FADD, a three-phase morphological model has to be used due to phase separation of a FADD-rich amorphous phase from the PBT-rich matrix, as confirmed by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The final morphology was dependent on the morphology of the PBT/FADD-based physical mixtures prior to SSM. In addition, it was shown that FADD diffusion during SSM influences the final morphology.