End-group determination in poly(ethylene terephthalate) by infrared spectroscopy

A complete infrared (IR) spectroscopy experimental procedure was used to determine end-group concentrations of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The correlations of the hydroxyl and carboxyl units were derived independently for accurate calibration results. The intermediate monomer of PET, bis(hydroxyethyl terephthalate), was used to prepare hydroxyl end-group standards and titration measurements were used to determine the carboxyl content for the carboxyl end-group standards. A double-Gaussian form equation was defined to account for the interference between the hydroxyl and the carboxyl absorbance peaks in the PET IR spectrum. Some deviation was found from the assumption traditionally used for end-group determination, stating that carboxyl and hydroxyl are the only end-group units available in PET. (C) 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.