Blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) and a polyarylate before and after transesterification

Blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and a copolyester of bisphenol-A with 50% terephthalate-50% isophthalate (PAr), before and after transesterification, have been studied by thermal and dynamic mechanical tests to determine crystallinity and phase behavior. Blends without transesterification, as prepared by solution precipitation, show a single T_g, indicating amorphous miscibility of PBT and PAr. A melting-point depression for PBT crystals is not observed; this means that PBT crystallizes excluding PAr and the entropy of melting is small. The highest fractional crystallinity for PBT is obtained at 20-35% of PAr. Transesterified blends were obtained by holding the physical blends at 250°C for up to 16 h. The transesterified systems show higher T_g's than the corresponding physical blends and also show a marked melting-point depression and lesser PBT crystallinity at the corresponding increased PAr content.