1 Effect of Compatibilization on the Properties of Microfibrillar Reinforced Composites Based on Poly(ethyleneterephthalate) and

This report deals with microfibrillar reinforced composites (MFC) based on blends from recycled poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET), polypropylene (PP) and a compatibilizer (Orevac CA 100 (O)). They were prepared by melt extrusion and cold drawing. The PET/PP weight ratios amounted to 10/90, 30/70 and 50/50, respectively, with additional O-contents between 0 and 3 wt.%. Rectangular specimens were prepared by injection molding (IM) at processing temperatures below the melting temperatures of PET. Samples of each stage of MFC manufacturing were characterized by means of mechanical testing. The flexural modulus and the flexural strength of the IM MFC-samples are by 50 % better than those of the neat PP. The addition of the compatibilizer resulted only in a little improvement in modulus and strength (relative to the MFC’s without O), but in a clear improvement in the impact energies (up to a compatibilizer fraction of 3%). Key words: microfibrillar reinforced composites, morphology, processing, PET/PP blends, compatibilizer 1