An Overview on Obtaining Foamed Pet by Reactive Extrusion

Many methods are used to obtain functional polymer foams. This review focuses on reactive extrusion of poly(ethylene terephthalate). This process is based on the reaction between PET and the appropriate blowing agent. The next step is the creation of foam by closing gas cells in the polymer matrix. This method of modification allows material with higher molecular weight to be obtained and, therefore, higher melt strength. The use of different chemical modifiers and their concentration influences properties of created foam. The enhanced features of foamed PET allow it to be used in many areas of application such as transport, construction or general industry. Another big advantage of this technique is the possibility of using recycled materials as the source of PET.