Study of compatibilization of HDPE-PET blends by adding grafted or statistical copolymers

EFFECTS OF GRAFTED VINYL TRIETHOXY SILANE ON MOISTURE CROSSLINKED EPDM

An EPDM terpolymer grafted with silane vinyl triethoxysilane (EPDM-g-VTES) was prepared by melt grafting, with dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as an initiator. Next, dibutyl tin dilaurate was added as a catalyst to promote moisture crosslinking of EPDM-g-VTES. By means of the rheological response of the rubber compound, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and moving die rheometer, the VTES graft ratio and DCP partial crosslinking (pre-crosslinking) of EDPM-g-VTES were characterized to show the feasibility of moisture crosslinking. The mechanical properties of moisture crosslinked EPDM-g-VTES specimens were tested by universal material tester. The results showed that when the weight ratio of VTES to DCP was fixed at 15:1, the VTES graft ratio and DCP partial crosslinking of EDPM-g-VTES increased with the increase of VTES content. But the torque in the moisture crosslinking curve of EPDM-g-VTES increased significantly with the extension of crosslinking time, which proved that EPDM grafted with VTES was cured by moisture successfully. The tensile strength and elongation at break of EPDM-g-VTES were improved by moisture cure. Furthermore, the moisture cured specimen with 3 wt% VTES had the best mechanical performance.

Orange is the new white: rapid curing of an ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer with a Ti-bisphenolate type catalyst

The here established crosslinking chemistry opens up a by-product free method for rapid curing of epoxy-functionalised polyethylenes.

Effects of SEBS-g-MA on Rheology, Morphology and Mechanical Properties of PET/HDPE Blends

The effects of additive styrene/ethylene-butylene/styrene copolymer grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA) were investigated on the rheology, morphology and mechanical properties of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/high density polyethylene (HDPE) blend. The ratio of the two components was changed in small increments to track phase inversion. The rheology measurements show that SEBS-g-MA acts differently on HDPE and PET, as different morphologies are formed due to viscosity ratio change. With the help of electron microscopy various phases after extrusion and after injection molding were revealed and identified. Because of the high viscosity of HDPE the co-continuous morphology was immediately formed when PET reached 30 vol%. The range of the co-continuous structure of the blend was wider when SEBS-g-MA was added, and the elongation at break also improved as additive content increased, without a significant strength decrease. The divergence of the mechanical properties from the theoretical value, i.e. the value determined by the mixing rule, can be explained by the changing phase structure.

Improved Mechanical Properties of Compatibilized Polypropylene/Polyamide-12 Blends

Compatibilized blends of polypropylene (PP) and polyamide-12 (PA12) as a second component were obtained by direct injection molding having first added 20% maleic anhydride-modified copolymer (PP-g-MA) to the PP, which produced partially grafted PP (gPP). A nucleating effect of the PA12 took place on the cooling crystallization of the gPP, and a second crystallization peak of the gPP appeared in the PA12-rich blends, indicating changes in the crystalline morphology. There was a slight drop in the PA12 crystallinity of the compatible blends, whereas the crystallinity of the gPP increased significantly in the PA12-rich blends. The overall reduction in the dispersed phase particle size together with the clear increase in ductility when gPP was used instead of PP proved that compatibilization occurred. Young’s modulus of the blends showed synergistic behavior. This is proposed to be both due to a change in the crystalline morphology of the blends on the one hand and, on the other, in the PA12-rich blends, to the clear increase in the crystallinity of the gPP phase, which may, in turn, have been responsible for the increase in its continuity and its contribution to the modulus.

Análise termodinâmica do comportamento mecânico na região elástica de blendas de poli (tereftalato de etileno) reciclado e poliolefinas recicladas

Este trabalho descreve o estudo de blendas de poli(tereftalato de etileno) reciclado e poliolefinas recicladas, com e sem adição de polipropileno funcionalizado com anidrido maleico e poli(etileno-co-octeno-1) utilizando ensaios mecânicos e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Foi aplicado um formalismo termodinâmico com base na função trabalho de Helmholtz para o comportamento mecânico na região elástica, correlacionando-se com o armazenamento de energia elástica para os materiais estudados. Também foi analisada a dissipação de energia relativa ao fenômeno elasto-plástico na região de baixas deformações. Para as blendas estudadas, observou-se que o armazenamento de energia e o efeito do compatibilizante são muito mais acentuados na região rica em poliolefinas, corroborando com as imagens da morfologia observadas via microscopia eletrônica. A análise termodinâmica apresentada mostrou-se uma ferramenta útil e confiável e de baixo custo, para avaliar o efeito de compatibilização de sistemas poliméricos imiscíveis. No presente trabalho, particularmente para a avaliação do comportamento mecânico de misturas de materiais "commodities" reciclados.