Role of Crystallinity on Moisture Absorption and Mechanical Performance of Recycled PET Compounds

Recycle poly(ethylene terphthalate) (RPET) was compounded with talc, glass bead and PEG in twin screw extruder with different cooling systems of hot air cooling and water cooling processes. The air cooling system allowed slow cooling and higher crystallized of RPET in the compounds, which resulting in higher crystllinity in the compounds as compared to the water cooling. Moisture content of the compounds decreased when increasing crystallinity. It is interesting to note that tensile properties of the RPET compunds would enhance when incorporated with talc filler and when lower moisture content values in the RPET compounds.