COMPATIBILIZATION OF RECYCLED HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE)/POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHA- LATE (PET) BLENDS

Immiscible blends of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were compatibilized with maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA). The effect of the compatibilizer content on the mechanical, morphological, rheological, and thermal properties of recycled HDPE/PET blends was investigated. The blends were prepared in a twin screw extruder. Tensile strength, tensile strain at break, and impact strength improved with the addition of the compatibilizer. The compatibilized blends had a smaller size of dispersed phase compared with the uncompatibilized blends. The addition of the compatibilizer increased the melt viscosity of the compatibilized blends. The compatibilizer affected on the crystallinity behavior of the blends