Phase behavior and mechanical properties of blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) and poly(amino–ether) resin

The structure, thermal and mechanical properties of blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and a poly(amino–ether) (PAE) barrier resin obtained by direct injection molding are reported. The slight shift of the glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the pure components when blended is attributed to partial miscibility rather than interchange reactions. Both the small strain and the break properties of the blends were close or even above those predicted by the direct rule of mixtures. The specific volume of the blends appeared to be the main reason for the modulus behavior. The linear values of the elongation at break indicated that the blends were compatible, and were attributed to a combination of good adhesion between the two phases of the blends and the small size of the dispersed phases. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 132–139, 2004