Phase structure and properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polyethylene based on recycled materials

Abstract

Blends based on recycled high density polyethylene (R-HDPE) and recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (R-PET) were made through reactive extrusion. The effects of maleated polyethylene (PE-g-MA), triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene (SEBS), and 4,40-methylenedi(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) on blend properties were studied. The 2% PE-g-MA improved the compatibility of R-HDPE and R-PET in all blends toughened by SEBS. For the R-HDPE/R-PET (70/30 w/w) blend toughened by SEBS, the dispersed PET domain size was significantly reduced with use of 2% PE-g-MA, and the impact strength of the resultant blend doubled. For blends with R-PET matrix, all strengths were improved by adding MDI through extending the PET molecular chains. The crystalline behaviors of R-HDPE and R-PET in one-phase rich systems influenced each other. The addition of PE-g-MA and SEBS consistently reduced the crystalline level (χ_c) of either the R-PET or the R-HDPE phase and lowered the crystallization peak temperature (Τ_c) of R-PET. Further addition of MDI did not influence R-HDPE crystallization behavior but lowered the χ_c of R-PET in R-PET rich blends. The thermal stability of R-HDPE/R-PET 70/30 and 50/50 (w/w) blends were improved by chain-extension when 0.5% MDI was added.

Citation

Lei, Yong; Wu, Qinglin; Clemons, Craig M.; Guo, Weihong. 2009. Phase structure and properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/high-density polyethylene based on recycled materials. Journal of applied polymer science. Vol. 113, no. 3 (Aug. 5, 2009): pages 1710-1719.