Matrices for mono-material composites (MMC). The case of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The use of the same thermoplastic polymer for both the matrix and the filler in the prepn. of composites is very attractive, because such composites are in principle fully recyclable. Recently it has been reported the prepn. of a mono-material composite (MMC) made of polypropylene to be used in automobile parts. In this work we report on the prepn. and characterization of matrixes for quasi MMC made of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The results showed that bis(hydroxyethyl) terephthalate-isophthalic acid copolymer is adequate to be used as matrix.