Abstract
In this work, recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETR) was blended with virgin high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in an internal mixer in an attempt to obtain a material with improved properties. A compatibilizer (PE-g-MA) and a chain extender (Joncryl) were added to the PETR/HDPE blend and the rheological and thermal properties of the modified and unmodified blends as well as those of virgin PET with virgin HDPE (PETV/HDPE). All the blends were characterized by torque rheometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The data obtained indicate that the incorporation of either the chain extender or the compatibilizer agent led to increases in torque (and hence in viscosity) of the blend compared to that of the neat polymers. The joint incorporation of the chain extender and compatibilizer further increased the viscosity of the systems. Their effect on the crystallinity parameters of HDPE was minimal, but they reduced the crystallinity and crystallization temperature of virgin and recycled PET in the blends. The thermal stability of the PETR/HDPE blend was similar to that of the PETV/HDPE blend, and it was not affected by the incorporation of the chain extender and/or compatibilizer.
Highlights
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family, has become one of the main contributors to post-consumer plastic waste
The data obtained indicates that the incorporation of 1% of a chain extender additive (Joncryl) and 10% of a compatibilizer (PE-g-MA) promoted a considerable increase in the melt viscosity of PETV, and this increase was even higher for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETR), especially in the presence of the chain extender
PE-g-MA compatibilized blends showed a considerable elevation in torque which increased with the amount of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in their composition, regardless of the kind of PET used
Summary
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family, has become one of the main contributors to post-consumer plastic waste. Its properties and low cost are responsible for its high production, which in turn has led to serious environmental problems as most of the products manufactured with this resin are fast disposal products which growingly accumulate in landfills [1]. Many efforts are directed towards improving methods for recycling and reusing plastic components from industrial and municipal waste. Blending post-consumer polymers under suitable conditions can provide an alternative route to the commercialization of recycled materials with a satisfactory cost/performance ratio and application potentials in packaging and the household and engineering sectors [2]. PET and polyolefins (PO) such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) are the most widely used thermoplastics in packaging applications (bottles, containers, films, etc.) which have a low shelf life [3]
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