Mechanical properties of cellulose acetate propionate/aliphatic polyester blends

Useful blends of cellulose esters with other higher molecular weight polymers are generally unknown. Two aliphatic polyesters, poly(tetramethylene glutarate) (PTG) and poly(tetramethylene succinate) (PTS), have been thermally compounded with cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) in the range of 10–40 wt % polyester. These blends have been injection molded, and the mechanical properties of the molded bars were compared to bars molded from CAP plasticized with a low molecular weight diester, dioctyl adipate (DOA). The CAP/aliphatic polyester blends have significantly higher tensile strengths, flexural moduli, heat deflection temperatures, and greater hardness values than the corresponding CAP/DOA blends. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.