Detailed comparison of compatibilizers MAPE and SEBS-g-MA on the mechanical/thermal properties,and morphology in ternary blend of recycled PET/HDPE/MAPE and recycled PET/HDPE/SEBS-g-MA

Abstract

In this study, for recycling polyethylene terephthalate, a blend of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with maleic anhydride polyethylene (MAPE) and maleic anhydride-grafted styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene (SEBS-g-MA) were used. The effect of compatibilizers in RPET was investigated by mechanical test (tensile and flexural tests), thermal test (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)), and melt flow index test. The morphology of fracture surface of samples was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical tests showed that elongation at break point and the fracture energy of samples with composition of RPET (70 wt%)/HDPE (15 wt%)/MAPE (15 wt%) and RPET (75 wt%)/HDPE (10 wt%)/SEBS-g-MA (15 wt%) increased significantly. Results of DSC test and SEM photography showed that ternary blend of RPET/HDPE/MAPE has better compatibility compared with RPET/HDPE/SEBS-g-MA. SEM images showed that MAPE provides better bonding between RPET and HDPE compared with SEBS-g-MA. MAPE was dispersed in RPET better than SEBS-g-MA.