Blends of recycled polycarbonate and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene: comparing the effect of reactive compatibilizers on mechanical and morphological properties

Blends of recycled polycarbonate ( PC ) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene ( ABS ) were prepared and some mechanical and morphological properties were investigated. To compatibilize these blends, ABS ‐ g ‐(maleic anhydride) ( ABS ‐ g ‐ MA ) and (ethylene–vinyl acetate)‐ g ‐(maleic anhydride) ( EVA ‐ g ‐ MA ) with similar degree of grafting of 1.5% were used. To compare the effect of the type of compatibilizer on mechanical properties, blends were prepared using 3, 5 and 10 phr of each compatibilizer. A co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder was used for blending. The results showed that ABS ‐ g ‐ MA had no significant effect on the tensile strength of the blends while EVA ‐ g ‐ MA decreased the tensile strength, the maximum decrease being about 9.6% when using 10 phr of this compatibilizer. The results of notched Charpy impact strength tests showed that EVA ‐ g ‐ MA increased the impact strength of blends more than ABS ‐ g ‐ MA . The maximum value of this increase occurred when using 5 phr of each compatibilizer, it being about 54% for ABS ‐ g ‐ MA and 165% for EVA ‐ g ‐ MA . Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the particle size of the dispersed phase was decreased in the continuous phase of PC by using the compatibilizers. Moreover, a blend without compatibilizer showed brittle behaviour while the blends containing compatibilizer showed ductile behaviour in fracture. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry