Processability and Compatibility of Polyethylene Terephthalate and High-Density Polyethylene from Post-Consumer Wastes

Abstract

In view of the post-consumer waste problems facing the country, an at tempt to recycle mixed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which are the sources of soda bottles and milk jugs, was made. PET and HDPE were intensely co-mixed in a Brabender and compression molded into composite products. The processability of mixing PET and HDPE with various mixing ratios was investigated. The mechanical properties, i.e., stress at maximum load, percent strain at maximum load, and modulus of elasticity, of the composites were statistically analyzed. The ther momechanical properties—such as storage modulus and loss modulus—of composites were evaluated. Compatibility of the composites was also examined by a scanning electron microscope.

Keywords

Polyethylene terephthalate PET soda bottle high-density polyethylene HDPE milk jug storage modulus loss modulus.

References

U. S. Epa. 1989. U.S. The Solid Waste Dilemma. An Agenda for Action, EPA/530-SW-89-019. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Solid Waste

Hon, D.N.-S. , W. Chao , and C. Buhion. 1992. "Commingled Plastics/Newspaper Composites," Plastics Engineering , 48(10):25.

Hon, D.N.-S. 1992

"Composites from Municipal Solid Waste Mathematical Models for Energy Consumption and Mechanical Properties,"

Proceedings of the Pacific Rim Bio-Based Composites Symposium . Rotorua, New Zealand, November 9-13.

Hon, D.N.-S. and T. Sean. 1991. Thermoplastic Comp. Mater ., 4:300.

Ward, I.M. 1960. Trans. Faraday Soc. , 56:648.

Rubin, I.I. 1990. Handbook of Plastic Materials and Technology , New York John Wiley & Sons, pp. 339, 639.