| Abstract: | A series of chemically modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) samples was received after chain extension of a virgin sample at different reaction times with a new diepoxide as chain extender. These samples showed different intrinsic viscosity and degrees of branching or crosslinking. The effect of this differentiation on thermal properties was studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and the determined Tg values were found to be in good agreement with those obtained by differential scanning calorimetry and thermomechanical analysis. Also, the branching or crosslinking exhibited significant improvement in tensile mechanical properties, which were studied, and the results are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 797–803, 1998 |
