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Phase structure and properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/high‐density polyethylene based on recycled materials
Author(s) -
Lei Yong,
Wu Qinglin,
Clemons Craig M.,
Guo Weihong
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.30178
Subject(s) - materials science , high density polyethylene , polyethylene , crystallization , ethylene , composite material , reactive extrusion , polyethylene terephthalate , polymer blend , thermal stability , polymer chemistry , copolymer , izod impact strength test , extrusion , polymer , chemical engineering , ultimate tensile strength , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering , catalysis
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 4,4′‐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 ( T 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. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009