Improved compatibility in Recycled-PE / LDPE using glycidyl methacrylate, acrylic acid grafted mPE

Abstract

In this study, metallocene linear low density polyethylene (abbreviated as mPE) was grafted with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and acrylic acid (AAc) forming long-chain branched polymers, which act as an interfacial modifier of recycled high-density polyethylene (abbreviated as rPE)/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blends. AAc was shown to increase GMA grafting efficiency onto mPE producing mPE-g-GMA/AAc. The mechanical properties, crystalline structure, rheological properties, and phase structure of rPE/LDPE/mPE-g-(GMA-co-AAc) (abbreviated as rPE/LDPE/mPE-g-G/A) blends were investigated using uniaxial tensile, differential scanning calorimeter, rheometer, and X-ray diffraction experiments. The tensile strength of rPE/LDPE/mPE-g-G/A was 34.51 MPa and the multiphase polymer displayed co-crystallization characteristics indicating good compatibility between the two components. The changes in the interface layer thickness and dispersed phase size further indicate the existence of partial compatibility among the multiphase polymer.