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In situ compatibilization of a polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene ternary blend through Friedel–Crafts alkylation
Author(s) -
Carvalho Vinícius L.,
Safieddine Camila,
Demarquette Nicole R.,
Pinheiro Luís A.
Publication year - 2020
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.48295
Subject(s) - compatibilization , materials science , polystyrene , polypropylene , high density polyethylene , polyethylene , polymer blend , polymer chemistry , ternary operation , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , phase (matter) , polymer , organic chemistry , copolymer , chemistry , computer science , programming language
ABSTRACT The Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction has been applied to reactively compatibilize a ternary blend of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). The reactions were carried out in an internal mixer using varying catalyst concentrations. The resulting compatibilizer was quantified after Soxhlet extraction. In addition, p ‐substitution due to the grafting of alkyl groups onto the PS benzene ring was identified via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The size of the PS domain in the reactive compositions is decreased by 80%. Moreover, the phase in which PS droplets were dispersed varied, that is, in the nonreactive blends they were found in the PP phase and in the reactive blends they shifted toward the HDPE phase. The effect of the compatibilizing agent was to improve the mechanical properties of the blend. Even with the lowest catalyst content, the properties of elongation‐at‐break, tensile strength, toughness, and elastic modulus showed improvements. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137 , 48295.