The miscibility of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) with phosphorus polyester flame retardants

Abstract

Phosphorus polyesters provide sustainable flame retardancy to conventional polyesters like PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate)) and PBT (poly(butylene terephthalate)). Their use as a flame retardant additive results in the formation of a classical polymer blend. The morphology of such blends should determine the resulting fire behavior and has therefore to be examined in detail. This study investigates the state of miscibility in blends of standard polyesters (mainly PBT) with phosphorus (co)polyesters mainly using the behavior of the glass transition ( Tg). The Tg values were determined by modulated DSC measurements and compared to the ones calculated assuming complete miscibility according to the Fox–Flory concept. The homopolyesters are completely immiscible with each other. Miscibility can be improved by transesterification reactions in the melt as well as by copolyester consisting of segments of PBT or PET and the phosphorus polymer.