Toughening of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)/glass fiber blends with ethylene–butyl acrylate–glycidyl methacrylate copolymer and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene–octene rubber

Abstract

The aim of this study was to improve the toughness of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/ glass fiber (GF) blends through the addition of ethylenebutyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (EBAGMA) and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene-octene (POEg-MAH) individually. The morphology and mechanical properties of the ternary blend were also examined in this study. EBAGMA was more effective in toughening recycled PET/GF blends than POE-g-MAH; this resulted from its better compatibility with PET and stronger fiber/matrix bonding, as indicated by scanning electron microscopy images. The PET/GF/EBAGMA ternary blend had improved impact strength and well-balanced mechanical properties at a loading of 8 wt % EBAGMA.The addition of POE-g-MAH weakened the fiber/matrix bonding due to more POE-g-MAH coated on the GF, which led to weakened impact strength, tensile strength, and flexural modulus. According to dynamic rheometer testing, the use of both EBAGMA and POE-g-MAH remarkably increased the melt storage modulus and dynamic viscosity. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that the addition of EBAGMA lowered the crystallization rate of the PET/GF blend, whereas POE-g-MAH increased it.

Post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate and polyamide 66 blends and corresponding short glass fiber reinforced composites

“…The blending of bottle-grade post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with suitable polymers and/or compounding with SGFs can be used to attain improved properties of the post-consumer PET and broaden the possibilities for its use as an engineering thermoplastic. Cheng et al 2 studied SGF-reinforcement in blends of post-consumer PET and ethylene-butyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (EBA-GMA) copolymer and of post-consumer PET and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE-MAH). Karsli et al 3 investigated the effects of SGF-reinforcement on the properties of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate/poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PET/PEN) blends.…”

Recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) – A review focusing on chemical methods

“…Besides such additives, the addition of other polymers (e. g. polyethylene, polypropylene) or inorganic materials (clay minerals) has been applied for thermomechanical PET recycling to improve mechanical properties of the recyclate [81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94]. In addition to blending PET with a second polymer, the use of compatibilizers such as ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylenebutyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer, poly (styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene) and epoxy-chain extenders has been applied to further improve mechanical properties [82][83][84][85][86]. Although the use of additives to PET can improve properties of thermo-mechanically recycled PET, it ultimately leads to a downcycling of the material, since this material becomes increasingly difficult to be recycled again due to the heterogeneous and inherent composition of PET with the other components.…”

Polyamide-6/Poly(lactic acid) Blends Compatibilized by the Maleic Anhydride Grafted Polyethylene-Octene Elastomer

“…There were studies [9][10][11] using POE-g-MAH as a toughening modifier in PET systems. Chiu et al [9] revealed that the hydroxyl end group of PET may react with the anhydride group of POE-g-MAH and the formation of graft copolymers acted as compatibilizers of PET system.…”