Blowing Properties and Functionality of Thermoplastic Polyester Film Using Thermally Expandable Microcapsules

Polymers (Basel). 2019 Oct 11;11(10):1652. doi: 10.3390/polym11101652.

Abstract

Blowing film was prepared using a polyester elastomer with thermally expandable microcapsules to investigate its blowing properties and functionality. Film with 11% microcapsule contents showed the lowest specific gravity and the highest blowing efficiency. However, the collapse and merging of blowing cells with 11% microcapsule contents was found by SEM. Therefore, film with 9% microcapsule contents was shown to have better blowing and cell stability than that of film with 11% microcapsule contents. Tensile strength and elongation decreased by increasing microcapsule contents. Film curl and film shrinkage properties were unaffected by microcapsule contents. Water vapor permeability and hydrostatic pressure was decreased by increasing microcapsule contents.

Keywords: blowing agent; curl; mechanical properties; permeability; polyester film; shrinkage; thermally expandable microcapsule.