R. Legras, J. Dekoninck, A. Vanzieleghem
1986
Citations
0
Influential Citations
70
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Polymer
Abstract
Abstract Dimethyl terephthalate (DMTP), a model compound of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETP), is used to simulate the behaviour of PETP in the presence of an organic acid salt, sodium o-chlorobenzoate (SOCB). On heating SOCB/DMTP systems, it is shown that the salt first dissolves in liquid DMTP. At higher temperatures, a reaction takes place between SOCB and DMTP, methyl sodium terephthalate (MSTP) being formed. MSTP is insoluble in the reaction medium and precipitates. A second reaction occurs when solid MSTP thermally decomposes to form disodium terephthalate (DSTP) and dimethyl terephthalate. The kinetic constants governing these reactions are determined and the influence of temperature and concentration are described.