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Effect of rate of agitation on poly (ethylene terephthalate) degradation in phenol: 1, 2-dichlorobenezene solvent mixture


JOE Otaigbe
HC Nwokonkwo
CC Onyemenonu

Abstract

No abstract available
The evaluation of the acid number, ash content and melting temperature of poly (ethylene terephthalate) has been reported (Otaigbe et al, 2003). The polymer was dissolved in phenol: 1,2 dichlorobenzene solvent mixture of 35%: 65% and 50%: 50% by weight and then degraded at 143±2oC. The effect of the rate of agitation on poly (ethylene terephthalate) degradation in solution was investigated by dilute solution viscometric measurements on 0.5 g/dl polymer concentration and agitation rates of 150 revolutions per minute (rpm), 180 rpm and 190 rpm respectively.


Results show that the rate of degradation increases generally with increase in the rate of agitation as evidenced by the reduction in intrinsic viscosities under similar conditions. Intrinsic viscosities were found to be 0.621, 0.609 and 0.604 at 150 rpm, 180 rpm and 190 rpm respectively for 35%: 65% phenol: 1,2-dichlorobenzene solvent composition at degradation time of 60 minutes. At degradation time of 300 minutes, intrinsic viscosities were found to be 0.548, 0.547 and 0.544 at 150 rpm, 180 rpm and 190 rpm respectively for the same solvent composition.


For 50%: 50% by weight phenol: 1,2-dichlorobenzene solvent composition, intrinsic viscosities were found to be 0.601, 0.596 and 0.593 at a degradation time of 60 minutes and agitation rates of 150 rpm, 180 rpm and 190 rpm respectively. Similar trend was observed for 300 minutes degradation time, where intrinsic viscosities of 0.562, 0.555 and 0.551 were recorded at 150 rpm, 180 rpm and 190 rpm respectively.


KEY WORDS: Poly (ethylene terephthalate), Degradation, Agitation.


Global Jnl Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.10(3) 2004: 385-389

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eISSN: 2992-4464
print ISSN: 1118-0579