An investigation on recycled PET/PP and recycled PET/PP-EP compatibilized blends: Rheological, morphological, and mechanical properties

The effectiveness of P(E-co-MA-co-GMA) as a compatibilizer for recycled PET/PP and recycled PET/PP-EP (polypropylene (ethylene-propylene) heterophase copolymer) blends was investigated by means of morphological (scanning electron microscopy), rheological (small amplitude oscillatory shear), mechanical (tensile, flexural and impact tests), and thermal (differential scanning calorimetry) properties. Compatibilizer concentration ranged from 1 to 5 wt % with respect to the whole blend. All blends were obtained in a 90/10 composition using a twin screw extruder. Compatibilization effects for PETr/PP-EP were more pronounced due to ethylene segments present in both PP-EP and P(E-co-EA-co-GMA). PETr/PP-EP has shown greater dispersed phase size reduction, a more solid-like complex viscosity behavior and larger storage modulus at low frequencies in relation to PETr/PP blend. For both investigated blends, mechanical properties indicated an improvement in both elongation at break and impact strength with increasing compatibilizer content. PETr/PP-EP blends showed improved performance for the same level of compatibilizer content. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41892.