The effect of polyester recycled tire fibers (RTFs) mixed with ground tire rubber (GTR) in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with and without styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene-grafted maleic anhydride was studied. In particular, different RTF contents (10, 25, and 50 wt%) and compounding screw speed (110, 180, and 250 r min−1), as well as temperature profiles (extrusion and injection molding) were used to optimize the processing conditions. In this first part, a complete physical and morphological analysis for the RTF fibers and GTR particles was performed. The results show that the compatibilized compounds have lower RTF length and GTR particle size but better distribution of rubber particles in the LLDPE matrix. Overall, lower processing temperatures used in both extrusion and injection molding showed better interfacial adhesion between the components due to higher shear and mechanical energy imparted on the different particles.

In this study, composite films based on polylactic acid and talc were prepared by extrusion film blowing to determine the effect of annealing temperature, annealing time, and talc content on the morphology and gas permeability, as well as thermal and mechanical properties. The results showed that annealing temperature, annealing time, and talc content have a direct effect on polylactic acid crystallinity leading to changes in gas permeability and gas diffusion coefficient, while gas solubility was constant. This effect is related to the talc particles and polylactic acid crystals producing higher tortuosity in the films. Finally, a direct relation between crystallinity level, mechanical properties and gas permeability was observed for all the conditions tested.

The rheological behavior of polyester recycled tire fibers (RTF) mixed with ground tire rubber and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with and without styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene grafted maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA) as a compatibilizer was investigated in the melt (small amplitude oscillatory shear) and solid (dynamic mechanical analysis) states. In particular, the effect of RTF content (10, 25, and 50 wt %), extrusion screw speed (110, 180, and 250 rpm), and temperature profiles (extrusion and injection molding) was studied. In general, it was found that the rheological properties in the melt state (modulus and viscosity) of the uncompatibilized samples increased with RTF content, but higher values were obtained when SEBS‐g‐MA was added due to better interfacial coupling. Although similar results were obtained in the solid state, it was shown that melt rheology can better explain the variations as the measurements are more sensitive to the interface quality since the matrix contribution is less important. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46563.

This work reports on the mechanical (tension, flexion, and impact) and physical (density and hardness) properties of polyester recycled tire fibers (RTFs) mixed with ground tire rubber and linear low-density polyethylene with and without styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene grafted maleic anhydride as a compatibilizer. In particular, the effect of RTF content (10, 25, and 50 wt%), extruder screw speed (110, 180, and 250 r/min), and temperature profiles (extrusion and injection molding) was studied. The results showed that the best properties were obtained at the highest RTF content (50%) and extruder screw speed (250 r/min) combined with the lowest temperature profile in both extrusion and injection molding when the compatibilizer was added.