Rheological behavior of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) /poly(amide) 11 blends with chain extender

Abstract

There has been a remarkable surge in global demand for plastics, resulting in a significant increase in the generation of plastic waste. This, in turn, has led to a growing environmental concern. One global study ranked Malaysia as the eighth highest contributor to marine plastic pollution. Among various strategies, mechanical recycling emerges as a practical, economically viable, and environmentally efficient method for repurposing plastic waste. Nonetheless, the challenge of hydrolytic and thermal degradation of polyester macromolecules complicates the production of blends containing poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). An innovative solution to the plastic waste problem lies in leveraging polymer blends sourced from these waste materials, offering a potential remedy to recycling complexities. Blending of PET and poly(amide) 11 (PA11), a bio-derived polymer has demonstrated enhanced toughness and barrier properties for PET. Joncryl has been found to be an efficient chain extender as well as compatibilizer for other polymer blends. This paper focus on the effects of various content of Joncryl ADR 4468 (0,2,4 phr) as chain extender for recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) /poly(amide) 11 (rPETPA11) blends on rheological behavior. The rPETPA11 ratio is fixed at 80:20 based on prior research. Capillary rheometry was employed to determine the rheological behavior and thermal stability of the blends at 280 °C. The presence of 2 and 4 phr Joncryl results in increased apparent viscosity of the rPETPA11 blends. Notably, the apparent viscosity remains stable for 45 min with the addition of 2 and 4 phr Joncryl. The assessment of thermal stability should be extended to further evaluate the effects of the chain extender on the degradation kinetics of rPETPA11 blends.