Effect of inorganic metal compounds on synthesis of poly(butylene terephthalate) and properties of the compositions formed in situ

Using the synthesis of poly(butylene terephthalate) as an example, it was first shown that polycondensation can be performed in the presence of oxides and sulfides of II-VII Group metals that function not only as the fillers of the resulting polymers but also act as the reaction catalysts. Based on kinetic laws determined for the model reaction of methyl benzoate transesterification by 1-heptanol, the catalytic activity of inorganic compounds under examination was estimated. It was demonstrated that the compositions based on poly(butylene terephthalate) and metal oxides prepared in the course of synthesis have a more ordered spatial distribution and a better adhesion of filler particles to a polymer matrix and, as a result, better mechanical and thermal properties compared to the composition prepared by the mechanical mixing of the same components in the melt.